Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-11

Prince Gortschakoff said that 1.-The ORR
entail question was not in the orient but
in the rivalries of the
European cabinets Of Europe" And
p,v.,-.. this fact has been verified
in the Austro-Servian,
Greco-Roumanian. Greco Bulgarian. Aus
tro-Italian and Cretan conflicts. The fact
is verified anew by present events: the
proclamation Of Bulgaria's independence.
the annexation OF Bosnia Herzegovina by
Austria Hungary, the proclamation OF
union OF Crete to Greece and probable
conf1agration in Thasos. Samos and other
Turkish dependencies, which. like train
Of powder. may fire the entire magazine
in the Balkans. Beneath these fires. to
which may be added Servia and Monte
negro. which are frantic to repel the Aus
tro-Hungarian pretention. there is a sus-
picion that the fires have been lighted by
the rivalries OF European cabinets. The
peril of a general confagration is not so
much in restricting the fire in the Balkans
as in restraining the appetites Of inter-
ested cabinets.
This oriental question is most discon-
Gel lui8 dAO uloCOul dho tASAC "Ouiu
seem to be no possible peaceful solution.
Centuries have done but little to temper
the ferocious desire for blood which domi
mates the descendants of the Scythian
and the Hun. Diplomacy, too. which has
been defined as "a collection of knowledge
founded on certain acknowledged prtnci-
ples." appears totally insufficient to meet
the case. The principles. however, are
uncertain and unfixed, and hence may not
be accepted as a science. Diplomacy will.
nevertheless, be expected to demonstrate
its efficacy In its response to the Turkish
note protesting against the dual violation
Of the treaty Of Berlin of 1878.
X *
Turkey appeals to the signatOry powers
to advise the porte as to the action they
propose to take to re-
Turkeys establish order in Bull
Note garia and eastern Rune
liza, and as to the annexa-
ton Of Bosnia II herzegovina by Austria,
and this appeal will be made to include
Crete and other OBJECTIONS which are
sure to follow. The Turkish circular says
in part:
1.-THE ottoman government could have
recourse to force. but respecting treaties
and solicitious for the common interests.
and approaching the necessity for Eu-
ropean peace, It prefers to avoid such
extremity, and. therefore, calmly awaits
the decision Of the powers, at the same
time expressly reserving to itself all
the rights guaranteed by international
conventions"
The Turkish ambassador at Paris, in
| an interview with reference to the pro-
posed international conference, manifests
his distrust Of such a conference. which
for fact might be converted into a
banquet at the expense Of Turkey. "Tur-
key" said the ambassador. would accept
an international conference as a reply to
her protest. but she would make a dis
pensation. In equity the right of compen-
sation was due to the victims Of abuse
OF force. and this principle could not be
forgotten by the conference"
at least it should be manifest to the pow
ers. for 1t would be the signal for a COM
pensation for all. Russia first would de-
mand that her fleet should no longer be
confined In the Black sea. Servia and
Montenegro and Greece would demand
| compensation in Macedonia Italy would
demand Albania. Whilst Bulgaria, posi-
bly, backed by Germany, would demand
perhaps no less than the occupation OF
Constantinople! 1t is not necessary, then,
to be prophet to predict that the powers
will endeavor to avoid conference. which
would not only cut up Turkey, but fight
over the bones.
Germany is charged in many quarters
with having been the inspiration of the
annexation of Bosnia Herzegovina by
Austria. Germany denies the allegation
with indignation.
Count Won Khevenhuller-M etsch. am
bassador Of Austria Hungary to France
when interviewed on that subject, said:
England more than any other power in
duced Austria-Hungary first to occupy
these provinces. In the Berlin congress
no one protested, none of the signatory
powers ignored the fact that the occu-
patton was not temporary but perma-
nent.'
Although the press dispatches incline to
the idea that Germany is behind Aus
tria for selfish motives. the writer does
not accept such interpretations In the
first place. If Germany were acting in ac-
cord with Austria. a Bulgarian army
ere TINS would have crossed the frontier
and occupied Andrianople.
On the other hand, Germany could only
contemplate such cooperation with Aus
tria-Hungary and Bull
Uermanys garia by the sacrifice of
Influence her influence in Turkey
1t is true there is a re-
dictionary influence in Turkey. at the head
Of which. 1t is asserted. is the sultan
anxious to regain his lost power and
maintain himself upon the throne, menac-
GU ~ VIC youA6 vi party buL the
occupation Of Andrianople would mean
the end of Turkish rule in Europe. and
surely neither sultan nor reactionaries
would agree to that.
Germany. at any rate. appears to have
lost her hold in Turkey and can only
hope to regain it by an act of hostility
to both sultan and the young Turk
party.
When it became known in Constantti-
nople, on the 7th instant, that Great
Britain, France and Russia would ad-
here to the Berlin treaty, there was
great outburst of popular feeling. mani
tested by joyous procession which pass
ed the embassies of those powers.
From this distance. at this moment, 1t
would appear that France England and
Russia are In accord with the young
Turks.
A dispatch from Paris the 7th instant
says: "Great Britain is assuming the
role OF protector Of the integrity Of
Turkey and the status quo. She OPP
poses a general revision of the Berlin
treaty, which would amount virtually to
scramble Of the powers for compensa-
ton at the expense of Turkey
It is currently reported in the European
press that Sir Edward Grey desires to
compensate Turkey. and to that end
would purchase eastern Rumelia for her.
The foregoing dispatch declares that
Diplomats see in the attitude Of Great
Britain a mastery stroke to displace Ger