Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-20
Something Doing to Relieve
Su|tan's Tired Feeling.
ROW WITH ITALY
Trouble Over Her Post Offices in
Constantinople.
BIG FLEET TO DEMONSTRATE
Just at the Psychological Moment
Abdul Hamid Gives in With
Customary Grace.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
ROME. April 2o.-The Turkish ambassa-
dor visited Foreign Minister Tittoni this
morning and informed him that the Turk
ish government had given its consent to
the opening OF Italian post offices in
Turkey and the sailing of the italian fleet
which was collected for the purpose OF
making a demonstration on the Turkish
coasts will be postponed. Immediately on
receiving the communication from the
Turkish ambassador Minister Tittoni held
a conference with his colleagues Of the
cabinet to decide what reply should be
sent to Turkey. -
Real Nice Fleet, Too.
Turkey has acceded to the italian de-
mand for italian post offices In Turkish
territory. in order to avoid a naval DEM
onstration in her waters. Italy insists.
however. that her other claims against
the Ottoman Empire he recognized. and
an active exchange of dispatches between
Constantinople and Rome Is going on.
An Italian squadron. under command Of
Admiral F. Grenet. was to set out today
for the purpose Of making demonstra-
ton in Turkish waters. The squadron
comprises eleven warships and includes
the battleship Regina Elena. commanded
BIZ the Duke Of the Abruzzi. Altogether.
the vessels could carry 5.Oe5 men. and
their objective point was to be Asia Minor
some 700 miles away.
Eight destroyers were to join the squad
ron. bringing the number of men in the
feet up to nearly 1000, with about 800
guns.
1t was decided. If necessary. also TO oc
cupy a small island off that coast. but 1t
was hoped here that Turkey would see
the error of her ways and give full salts
faction. SO that more energetic measures
might be avoided.
The difficulty between the two nations
arises out Of the refusal OF the Turkish
government to permit the installation Of
Italian post Offices in Turkish territory,
while at the same time other foreign ma
lions have established and are conducting
post offices there without interference.
Post Office Controversy.
Considera Bile irritation has been felt
here also over the murder Of an Italian
missionary In Tripoli and the persecution
by the Ottoman authorities Of natives
who have sold land to italians. but the
present action of the Italian government
is based primarily on the post office ques-
ton. With regard to this. however. the
Turkish ambassador In Rome has pointed
out In an interview that his government
has In no instance granted to the coun-
tries In question such privilege, although
1t has tolerated" the post Offices which
they have maintained. -<
For years. IT has been felt in govern.
ment circles in Rome that Turkey has
hAA 81 -
tional situation to act in high-handed
manner toward Italians. showing but lit
tie respect for italian rights This gov
eminent. II is stated. has been indulgent.
not wishing to cause complications which
with regard to the Ottoman or the Balkan
problems. In addition. there has been
much opposition on the part Of Turkey
to all peaceful Italian initiative In Tripoli,
and matters reached a climax when
Italy asked for permission to open post
offces in Turkish territory. where other
powers already were established, and
met with what Is considered by the ad-
ministration here unjustfiable refusal,
FOR besides being an acquired right, Italy
considers that she Ia entitled to claim it
according to treaties between the two
countries granting her the privileges of
the most favored nation.
Dallied With the Porte.
A semi offlcial note sent out by the
Italian government describes how for a
long time past Italians residing IN sew
eral towns in Turkey have been endeavor-
ing to secure the opening OF Italian post
ofiices. signor Tittoni. the italian min
lister OF foreign affairs. decided to open
post offices at Constantinople, Sa1onica.
Smyrna and Jerusalem. and at the end
Of March the Italian ambassador inform
ed the porte of Italy's intention.
The sultan had been aware of Italy's
intention in this respect for several years
March 20 the porte replied that the OPEN
ing Of these Offices would not be allowed
The Italian ambassador sent another
note to the porte April 8. in which he in
dicated that Italy's rights were incon-
testable. as they were based on the most
favored clause in the treaty between the
two countries. and furthermore denied the
existence Of any understanding, to the
contrary. which the porte contended there
was.
April IA the porte replied declaring
peremptorily that categorical orders had
ben given to prevent the opening of the
Offices. The Marquis Imperiali. the Ital-
ian ambassadOr. also received official in
formation to the effect that these orders
consisted In directing that armed guards
he placed before the post offices in order
to prevent by force the public from en-