Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-02-24
THE DARDANELLEs PROBLEM.

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tha passage, but the sentries might 50
to sleep some dark night and fail to
observe the silent movement OF the wa.
vessels in the tortuous channel.
The Dardanelles itself is a little over
forty-three miles long and Is from
three to four miles wide. but at the
narrowest part is not more than i,0oU
yards across. This is at n point guard
ed by Chanak Knlesi castle. where huge
chains are used to bar the passage.
The strait connects the Sea of Mar
mora with the Aegean. and is supposed
to be the key Of the Turkish capital.
This question of the protection OF
Constantinople is the central fact kept
In mind by all the treaties governing
the Dardanclles. Turkey has for CEN
turtles contended that no wnrships
should pass thru the strait without her
permission. She had built the first de-
fenses at its southern end against the
war galleys OF the venetians, and these
she closely guarded. England was the
first power to recognize Turkish rights
in this respect. This was in 1909. ana
the question was not raised again until
1888. when the celebrated Russo Turk
ish treaty OF Hunkiar Iskelasi. signed
OH June 26. closed the Dardanelles, 10
all foreign fleets except those OF Rus
sia. The objection of the powers, cs,-
pecially OF France and England. wsn
SO great. however. that the treaty was
abrogated. Matters thus remained un-
til 1871. when Mehemet ALI was max
ing trouble for Turkey, and France
was aiding him.
To keep the French fleet from men
acing Constantinople q compact, called
the quadruple treaty, was signed at
London, formally closing the Darda
nelles to foreign war vessels. THIS
convention was signed by England,
Russia, Austria and Prussia. and PROB
ably saved Constantinople from inva-
sion. A few years later. however.
France discovered that the treaty was
an excellent arrangement to keep Rus
sian ships from menaclne her southern
shores at any time and she also signed
the compact. Then the Muscovite dis
covered that unwittingly he had signed
a convention to keep his war craft I'm
n1ured in the Black sea. The Crimean
war OF 1856 clinched the matter.
Nicholas I. was crushed by coalition
OF the powers and was compelled to
sign the treaty of Paris. which. While
neutralizing the Black sea and throw
ing II open to commerce. further de-
clared that the Dardanelles should re-
main closed to foreign men-of-war.
This attitude was confirmed in 1871,
and again In 1878. after Turkey had
been defeated by Russia. The treaty
of San Stefano signed on March 5.
1878. granted to the Russian conquer
crs many concessions. including the
free passage OF the Dardanelles.
The powers objected to the arrange
ments, fearing that Russia had ac-
quired a preponderance of power over
the northern Turkish provinces. which
might ultimately threaten Constants
nople and the approaches to the Black
sea After a critical period of diplo-
macy the congress of Berlin was held
-on June Is to July 13. 1S7s-tfle re-
suit being treaty that stripped Rus
sia of much of the fruits of her VIC
tories over the Turks. and further de-
claring that the Dardanelles should
remain closed to war vessels.
This treaty was signed by England
France. Prussia, Austria, Russia ana
Sardinia. Thus the matter has re-
mained up to the present. except that
in 1891 the porte and Russia reached
an agreement that ships of the vol
unteer fleet" of Russia bearing the nag
of the merchant marine shall have free
passage OF the Dardanelles. but that
Turkey must he notified should these
vessels carry convicts or soldiers.
A year ago last January Great Brit
ain protested when four Russian tor
pelo boats from Cronstadt were per-
mitted to pass the strait to Join the
Black sea fleet. but none of the other
powers took notice of the affair. It is
obvious that at this juncture. when
Britain's ally. Japan, is involved, En-
glands protest against permitting
Muscovite men-of-wnr to get out OF
the Black sea will be of more strenu-
Gus nature. In the accompanying map
the Dardanelles and adjoining terri
tory are abnormally enlarged to give n
better understanding of the region.