The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-06
THE POWERS AND THE PORTE.
Turkeys Concessions TO Germany OF More
Than Commercial SIgnincanee7

To THE EDITOR or THE SVN-Sir. The
despatch in yesterdays Sun In which II ia
stated that there is a rumor at Constantl-
nople that the Porte has granted Germany
permission to establish a commercial station
on the island Of Thasos in the Egean Sea is
Of more than passing interest. For many
years past the British Government has re-
garded with a jealous eye every attempt
made by subjects of other Governments to
obtain a foothold on that island. Thasos
was an appanage Of the founder OF the
present Khedivial dynasty In Egypt. and
since the establishment Of the British In that
country the London Foreign once. on the
principle of the Maori chieftain who laid
claim to the title to a piece Of land because
he had eaten its former owner. has regarded
Thasos az coming within the scope OF its
Egyptian responsibilities. IL is for this rea-
son, as may have been noticed OF late years
at every recurring crisis between Turkey
and the Western Powers. that the British
squadron no longer makes it's rendezvous
near the Dardanelles. but at Tbasos. close to
the coast of Thrace, and in view Of the Turk
ish railway between Constantinople and
Salonica.
In spite, however. of the more or less overt
opposition of the British Government, the
Germans managed TO obtain nearly. every
GC0nGe,sSSi s.. no worth h ndnsr on II re GoI jslapd direct
subjects. strongly backed by, the German
pIlDdShN lIlbItt OuIdLltu q hlltlg HIN ytdTb
lease OF mining rights on the island for the
comparatively small sum Of sl7e.0 600 cash
down and a triflng royalty on minerals ex-
tTacted. The most valuable deposits are the
zinc ores, but there are others that are ex-
peGted to yield handsomely on development:
production. which Is abundant, but inferior
in quality. owing to the crude methods en-
ployed. There were several other competi-
tors for the mining privileges, French. British
and Austrian. but they were all refused. by
the Porte, as for strategic reasons" their
What the conditions may be that are behind
the concessions in general made to Germany
can only be surm ised but they are no doubt
OF a substantial character and personally
strategic reasons that stood in the way OF
the other competitors for the mining rights
ON the island OF Thasos seem to have pre-
vailed In favor OF Germany on this occasion,
so that 1t Is reasonable to suppose that there
were other than purely commercial reasons
They may be found perhaps in the state of
the Arabian question. Things are not going
we'll for the Sultan in that quarter Just now.
The successes of his troops over the levies
under the Imam Mohammed Yahya have
not been maintained, and the political condi-
tions have consequently become worse. The
coast tribes are said to have declared defn-
itely for British protection, while those In the
interior are DIVIDED into two parties. the pro-
Turkish and the party of independence.
thoroughly demoralized, having no desire to
fight fellow Moslems and being discontented
with its own conditions OF pay and SUBJ
slstence., With the possibility OF Abyssinian
and fresh Somaliland complications super
yening, t is not to be wondered at that there
both at the Porte and the Palace. PERA.
NEW YORK March 5.