The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-10-20

make the Ottoman Caliph almost as
completely vassal of the Gear as is the
Ameer of Bokhara. That treaty was
framed, IL will be remembered after
Gen. DIEBITsCH, having forced n pas
sage Of the Balkans. had Constantinople
at his mercy. BY the provisions Of the
instrument. the Porte undertook, at
Russia's request, to exclude in time OF
war all foreign warships from the Black
Sea, while Russia on her part promised
that whenever requested by Turkey
she would furnish aid by land and sea
forces. The treaty. had il been carried
ont. would have had two obvious results
In the first place, it would have accus-
toned the Sultan 10 rely upon his over
lord for defence against foreign aggres-
sion and for the maintenance Of order
in his own dominons; for it should be
roted that. at the time when the conven-
ton was agreed upon the JanissareS
had been annihilated by Sultan NAH
Moup, and the new military syst en-
which was To be substituted for them
was, as yet. in an inChoate state. ia the
second place. the Treaty of Cnkiar-
Skelessi would have converted the Black
Sea into Russian lake, whence AT any
moment the Cars warships might make
excursions into the Mediterranean. II
such state Of thing, was looked upon
! a. dangerous sixty wears ago, how
much more is il now to he dreaded by
Great Britain, to which the maint enance
| IF mn i,,,a nj tnn with IpItn
through the Suez Canal has become u
matter of momentoIs import
| II is very doubtful. however, whether
British public opinion would sustain the
! Balfour Government in an effort to per
susde the Sultan, by the promise of mill
Cies, 10 reject the proposed renewal Of
| the Inkiar- SkelesSi Treaty. In support
! Of this view THE Sun Of Yesterday con-
| tanned significant quotation from the
' London Spectator. We should keep in
| view that the Russian Government
would be much too astute Ia make
! the rejection of its proposal the o-ten-
! sible ground of war \ cdsus beW much
more specio,s and, in truth unassail-
| able is ready to lis hand We refer To
| the arrears of the pecuniary indemnity
for RuSsia's expenditures in the war of
! ls77-7s, an indemnity which by the Der
! lin Treaty the Sultan agreed 10 pay.
/ The car has a perfect right to demand
/ the immediate payment of those arrears
! but the Sultan VIGOROUSLY would be
| unable to comply with the demand If
/ British public opinion were now pro-
| Turkish, a. it was. or seemed 10 be, I'M
/ der the Beaconsfeld Administration.
! England might lend the money needed
10 pay the Sutan'S debt, or might even
! 60 so far a. To protect him against dis
| tralnment. The maS-aCrcS of Armenian
| Christians, however. have extinguishcd
the last trace of pro-Turkish sentiment
! in Great Britain and the Balfour Govern
ment would have To base an attempt "a
intervene between Russia and Turkey
on the naked ground of England'- in-
terests in Egypt and the Suez Canal
| II is certain that Russia could rely on
the support of France in any effort "a
establish a kind Of suzerantv over the
sultan, and there is no reason to suppose
that Germany, or either Of the other
parties To the Triple Alliance. would
stand forth in opposition, provided an
understanding could be reached con-
! corning the reversionarv right TO Tripod
| and concerning railroad concessions in
Anatolia and Mesopotamia
This reported countermove in tho iii.
rection of Constantinoplc looks like the
Cars rejoindcr to the course pursued
by England and Japan in compelling
Russia's evacuation of ManChuria