The San Francisco call., 1901-11-06
FRANCE AND TURKEY.

~ nee upon a time it was believed by good
] people that trade tended to friendly rea-
tlonshlps among men and nations, and that
the development of an epoch when commerce would
be the dominant factor in civilization would be equi
valent to bringing in the dawn of universal peace
Perhaps there few persons who still hold to that
theory but the majority of men have learned its false
ness Many war has been occasioned by the rival
ries of commerce. and now we are threatened with
another for the controversy in which the French and
the Turks engaged is the direct outcome of the
expansion of French enterprise, industry and trade
French capitalists have been engaged in financing
certain railways in Turkey and French company
has concession for constructing quays and docks
at Constantinople. The French fnanciers claim that
they have not been repaid the loans they made the
railways, nor even the interest. One of these
panes alone claims that the amount due it. with un-
paid interest, is nearly $oooo,ooo The company
holding the docks and quays concession claims that
is neither permitted to go with its work Of
ered fair to surrender the concession and turn
over to the Turkish Government the work that has
been thus far constructed
In his address the other day M. Delcasse Foreign
Minister of France, said: "The Government inter
vened in the quays question in order to get Turkey
to fulfill her engagements. If the Government had
not done there would have been an end of the nu
merous enterprises which France had created in Tur-
key IN the shape of railroads, roads, lighthouses and
banks The debt had been reduced by large per-
centage, and the Porte in August agreed to give sat-
istaction, but on the morrow these arrangements
were forgotten and others were proposed. Our Min
lster then ceased official relations with the Porte
There was no ultimatum but the cessation Of rea-
tons indicated that the Government took the Pores
word seriously and that it intended that the engage
ments entered into should be respected"
OF course along with the fight to enforce CONNER
cia engagements there goes also the invarable ten
dency to represent it fight for higher civili-
zaton. In this the claim is we'll made. 1t does
not seem possible that there be worse civil
zation than that which the Turks have imposed upon
the people who have fallen under their empire
Should the controversy with France lead up to open
war, and that spread until it brings about some
thing like revolution in Turkey the results could
hardly make affairs than they are now
Despite the justice of the French claims, it must
be admitted that the Sultan is altogether to blame
for delaying to satisfy them 1t is said he dare not
give the quays back into the hands of the French for
fear of assassination, and at the time cannot
obtain money to pay for them. He is therefore in
position that would lead almost any to equvo-
cate and evade Now that France has taken steps to
compel him to act may be approaching the end
of the condition of affairs which has enabled the
Turks to play fast and loose with civilization for
century. The concert of Europe may prevent the
outbreak OF war, but when once France has forced
the hand OF the Sultan other nations will an
equal right to enforce their claims and the old order
OF things IN Turkey will have come to close.