The Washington times., 1903-02-08
Gar May Not Find Conquest
an Easy One--TurkiSh
Army Officials and Porte
on nAlert--Trouble Foment-
ed in the Balkans--Alleged
DiSmemtement Program

1 L l.
/ LONDON, Feb. 1T cannot be said
that the latest complications in the
! Venezuela muddIe have been followed
with any general public interest either
/ here or in Germany. Disgust is the only
possible word 10 use 10 describe all
! classes Of popular opinion in Great
Britain in regard to the matter. and the
desire is well-nigh unanimous that the
| government shall bring the quarrel to
/ the speediest possible conclusion, at any
sacrifice Of material interest which may
| be necessary.
| It is beginning to be borne in upon the
English public mind that far greater
complications are immine { in the near
East. which threaten more serious huTniI-
iation than are possible IN Venezuela.
and it IS hoped that the field will be
cleared before the new crisis becomes
acute.
Turks Last Day in Europe.
Each days news tends to strengthen
the belief that the day OF the Turks last
struggle to retain his foothoId in Eu-
rope is close at hand. Russia's determi-
nation to sooner OF later acquire Con
stantiuople has, Of course, been one Of
the recognized primary factors IN Eu-
ropean politics fer many years. Her pa
cifc declarations IN regard to the DANCES
Of Balkan rising, 1t in so closely with
British prejudice. which is so strong
! rainst russia in these days, that Eng
-isb observers almost invariably see
malevoIent ambition IN ever act Of the
Cars government, but milking all due
allowance for this prejudice. it is fmpos-
sibIe not TO share the English suspicion
and belief of the present moment that
Russia has determined that the time is
now ripe for the realization Of her great
ambition, and that she intends in the
present year TO extend her domain 20
The Bosphorus This belief Is undoubt-
edly shared by the Turk himself. and
todzy's news OF the SuItan's decision to
mobilize nearly 250, GOO men is partial
eviGauce thereof.
TIE Russo-Austrian Entente.
It is about a month since it was
announced that Count Lamsdorn- the
Russian minister of foreign affairs, and
Count GoIuchowski, the Austro- Hun
garian minister of foreign affairs. had
arrived at "a complete understanding
in regard to an Austro- Russian scheme
Of reforms for Macedonia. the details
of which have not been published, al
though it now practically is too late
to avert the rising which they ostensibIy
designed TO prevent.
Trouble Due This Spring.
The Turkish view Of the situation is
IucidIy set forth in the Pail Mall
Gazette" by staG officer who served
in the last Turkish war. He
says.
There have BEEN many false alarms,
but this spring trouble viii come. The
one convincing sign TO be found is the
OF Count Ignatieh's tour
OF the Balkans His commemoration OF
Russian victories was not sufficient
motive for his speeches These we're OF
a sort calculated to make mischief.
He did not improvise those speeches, OF
make them on his own responsibility.
That is not the Russian way II follows
that in fomenting trouble he was carry
ing out the settled policy of she Russian
foreign ONCE. It is reasonable to infer
that the trouble he made publicly Was
not all the trouble he made.
What one has to remember Is that
Macedonia is always ready to rise when
ever she sees a chance OF foreign az
sistance. but the leaders know perfectly
we'll that without foreign assistancs
heir case Is hopeless. Bulgarian as
sistance is not enough. The Turks are
quite capable Of stopping the BulgarianS
without bringing single man from
asia Minor.
Russia Assured a Free Hand.
This fact is well known in Maeedo-
lia. Bulgaria. and Russia There viii
De 10 serious rising in Macedonia until
Russia gives the word. II Russia gives
he word. it viii be because she is sure
IF a free hand. without interference from
he other powers Has Russia free
land? At present everything depends
IN the answer TO this question. and !
believe it can be answered in the AZ
irmative.
Take the powers one by one Sinos
ord Salisbury's speech about putting
money on the wrong horse, Russia has
leld that England does not count in
8aI9 IL politics. France Is her ally. and
he alliance may be presumably relied
iron to keep Germany quiet.
Some small concession on the Al
il tic coast would easily couciIfata any