Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1905-03-09
DESIGNS ON TURKEY.
Russia to Joln With Austria to Settle
Near Eastern Question.

st. Petersburg, March 6.-Informa-
ton has reached your correspondent that
Russia and Austria are endeavoring to
reach settlement of the near Eastern
question, which, if it be successful, will
permit the Car to withdraw from the
war in the far east without an over
powering loss of prestige and will be al
most the final step toward the dismem-
berment of Turkey.
A person who has intimate knowledge
of the situation said to your correspon-
dent:
"All the great powers admit the fail
ure of the recent reform program in
Macedonia, and they realize that unless
desperate remedies are administered,
the situation in the Balkans will bring ap-
preciably nearer European war. Rus
sia and Austria are now at work at
tempting to make themselves the pre-
dominant Powers inIMacedonia, by Sc
curing the entire control of the Turkish
gendarmerie.
The two Governments propose to di-
vide European Turkey and Albania into
two countries. The gendarmerie are
to be recognized, and are to be placed
under the command of 200 officers and
600 officers in each sphere, to.be the ap-
pointees in the one of Russia, and other
of Austria
Turkey has been forced to agree in
principle to the reorganization of the
gendarmerie, but arrangements are try
ing to be made in st. Petersburg and in
Vienna whereby the whole of the
gendarmerie force in each sphere shall
be paid by Russia and Austria, thus
practically making them part of the
Russian and Austrian Armies.
WILL COST MORE.
The present cost of the gendarmerie
is 81, 800, 900 year, but after the reor-
ganization scheme is put in motion the
cost will be increased by $1,000, 900.
Austria and Russia have suggested that
the increase be met by reorganizing the
methods of tax collections in Turkey.
They say that if the sultan permits the
Ottoman bank to collect the tax through
Austrian and Russian agents, there will
be sufficient saving through the abol-
ition of the present methods of bribery
and 'extortion to meet the added gendar-
merle cost without increasing the taxes,
TURKEY REsIsTs,
Turkey is making desperate efforts to
prevent the carrying out of this part of
the scheme. The port realizes that
if Austria and Russia collect the taxes
in his country and pay the. gendarmarie
they will have great influence in Turkey
and his power will be gone. The Sultan
offers to augment the customs dues in
his country on order to pay. for the
Macedonia police force, but refuses the
demand of of Russia and Austria that
the money shall be handed to then for
paying the gendarmerie.
GREAT BRITAIN CONSENTS,
An impasse has now been reached,
and it is impossible to tell what will be
the outcome. Germany and France are
supposed to be supporting Austria and
Russia, and Great Britain is said to
have given her consent. 1t also de-
clines to join the concert OF the other
Powers in this instance.
In the event of the scheme ultimately
being pushed to a successful conclusion
there seems to be no doubt but that the
downfall of Turkey will soon follow,
Austria will undoubtedly seek to make |
herself mistress Of Salonica, and Russia |
if she Is unable to secure Constantine
pie, will obtain Dede Agatch, magnifi-
cent harbor on the southern coast of
Turkey, that will give. Russia the warm
water port she has so long desired.
Austria will them be able to swallow
Servia and Montenegro, and Russia will
absorb Bulgaria,