The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-04-25
Russia S Bold Break.

Russia s bOlQ Break.
It is reported from st, Petersburg
that Russia will send half her, Black
sea squadron thru the Dardanelles
into the Mediterranean to reinforce
the remains of the cars naval equip
ment in Asiatic waters, and seek to re-
gain for herself the respect of the
world as a naval power.
1t is evident that the signatories of
the Berlin treaty cannot generally ia
vor this movement unless Germany
and France wink at it, and it is prob
able that the naval distress of Russia
is SO acute that she has arranged with
Turkey, who was left by the powers in
the position of warden of the straits,
to offer no resistance in consideration
of Russia's remission of the balance Of
the war indemnity agreed upon be-
tween Russia and Turkey few
months after the treaty of Berlin was
signed. This indemnity amounted to
SO2, 100000 francs ($160, O,0OO).
The Berlin treaty also allowed Russia
the province of Bessarabia, detached
from Roumania, and the districts of
Kars, Arabian and Batoum in Asia
Minor, as compensation for the pluck
ing the powers administered in de-
priving her of the much larger terri
tory she had taken from Turkey thru
the treaty of San Stefano, annulled by
at predatory powers in the grab game
at Berlin in 1878. Great Britain, who
was for three-quarters of a century
strenuously opposing every effort Of
Russia to get free passage for her
warships from the Black sea to the
Mediterranean, would hardly approve
Russia's reported movement, espe-
cially as she is in alliance with Japan,
and would not be likely to facilitate
Russian war movements as Germany
seems inclined to do. -
The case Of Turkey is interesting.
If she permits, without Endorsement
Of the signatories Of the treaty of
Berlin, the Russian Black sea squad
ron to reach the Mediterranean thru
the Dardanelles, she will disclose her
authority for the. act and throw a
bonn bshell into the concert of
Europe"
The powers themselves are both
cred enough thru Turkey now, without
adding anything more to their bur-
dens. After the Crimean war in 1854
! 55, when England, France and Sar-
DINA fought for Turkey against Rus
STA, were retired from the field awfully
| shattered and disfigured, Turkey was
benevolently received into the family
of European nations on her promise to
"be good"
Turkey Immediately began to bor-
row money and spend it irrationally
England and France began by kindly
guaranteeing a loan Of s25,OO0,O00 al
borrowing on various pretexts from
Everybody who could be 'duped by his
oily tongue, until the public debt had
reached, in 1875, the somewhat
formidable sum of $9,000,O0O,O 900
and then Turkeys borrowing power
was exhausted and she repudiated 81
per cent of the debt.
Not long after, she underwent: the
big expense of the disastrous war witt
Russia and still lives to fight again
Turkey has surprised the world by hel
apparent facility in surmountins
financial depression. Unlike hel
neighbors, she reinforces her treasury
not only with the results of her raid,
upon her wretched subjects, but seize
the treasures Of the mosques, which
are Of great value, when she il
specially hard up. Conditions in Tur
key suggest war at any time, as sh
has not yet submitted to the prescrip
ton insisted upon by Austria and Rus
STA, the agents for the concert o
Europe" to effect reforms in the ad
minstration of the sultan.
Her violation of the terms Of tn
Paris and Berlin treaties touching tn
passage of the Dardanelles ought t
bring her under the lash of. tn
powers. But, who will make a seri
Gus fuss over the matter when Ger
many has taken Great Britain's plac
as special and intimate friend an
supporter of Turkey, and when Russi
is to profit by Turkeys disregard G
her treaty obligations as sentinel G
the Dardanelles? 4