Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-11-06
THAT FRENCH INVASION.

Inc latest dispatches concerning lne
Franoo-Tuikish trouble state that the
French admiral caillard has arrived at
Smyrna and seized the customs at thar
place, Smyrna Is one OF the important
cities Of Asia Minor, and one that has a
venerable history II was once most
powerful community belns situated on
one OF the great highways Of COM
merco, but with the agcendancy Of
constantinope. rs importance became
less aud decline set m lis present
population IS estimated at abou, 2Oe,-
900, great portion Of which is Greek
and viii undoubtedly Welcome the
French.
II may be convenient al this time to
review briefly the quarrel that has re-
suited in this INVASION. The facts haze
heen stated from time TO time In Tie
dispatches Some years ago French
capitalists secured concession from
the sultan &c build quays 10 facilitate
the l9ndine Of goods and passengers
from vessels arriving IN Constantine
pie The work was completed In 1885,,
ana tht owners, by charsng high fees
for tie use of the quays derived quite
a profit from the enterprise. Besides,
land In the vicinity became valuable,
and tho company claimed this land as
its property, but when II was put up
for sale the Turkish government re-
fused TO deliver titles to IT, and thus
the clash commenced. Then the gov
crnment. fearing that landing facilities
dnier the complete control OF foreign
crs might become menace to the
state, since dangerous persons could be
set ashore without the knowledge Of
the Turkish officials, became deslrous
Of buying the company out and thia
was satisfactory to the latter,
The price demanded was 100000, a
sum the Sultan. II seems, was unatle 10
raise unless he could borrow money
There the matter rested The
Turkish government was unable
70 buy the quays. but II had
power 10 harass the owners IN
numerous ways and by causing them
losses. The French ambassador there
fore. finally took the matter up. He
proposed that the Sultan borrow 500
100000, and pay the company 100000
and apply the rest to the settlement.of
other French claims OF long standing
II Is asserted that the Turkish ruler
promised to carry cut this plan, but
that he broke his pledge. Then the am
bassador left constantlnople. and the
Turkish representative In Paris was
notified that his presence there was not
desired. Then the visit OF the Car to
France took place, preceded by an in
terview between the Russian and Ger
man rulers, and shortly afterwards the
French squadron was dispatched to the
Levant.
II Is seen that the French bill Is Of
considerable dimensions, involving sew.
eral million dollars How long time
will 1t take the French admiral to col
ect this amount from the customs OF
one port and that not one of the larg-
est? II looks as n France were about
to establish itself for long time on
the coast Of Asia Minor and from n
prolonged occupation TO permanent
residence, the transition seems to be
easy in most cases France has now
gone. 10 considerable expense in collect
Ing her bill. and Turkey will naturally
be asked to add something to the ORR
ginal amount. II France has gone TO
Smyrna 10 stay, II is quite possible that
the old Turkish question will be
brought TO crisis, and perhaps that
Is the very reason why the expedition
was planned Time will tell. There
should be interesting news from the Le-
want in the near future.