The Washington herald., 1908-03-01
EUROPEAN CONCERT"
SIR EDWARD GRAY GIVES GRAVE OFFICIAL
WARNING OF CRISIS

Just thirty years ago, with the exception
Of the brief conflict between the Sublime
Porte and Greece. which was brought 10
close by the mere diplomatic interven-
ton Of the great powers. but little of the
original agreement remains: in fact Sir
Edward Grey and Lord Fitzmaurice may
be said 10 have pronounced its requiem IN
Parliament last week. Many OF its pro-
visions have remained unexecuted TO this
day, nearly every one of its signatOry
powers having laid itself open 20 charges
OF delinquency in the matter; none how
ever, 10 so great extent as Turkey herself,
who not only has neglected 10 introduce
the various reforms IN her Christian PROV
inces 70 which she solemnly pledged her
self by the treaty, but has not even paid
more than mere fraction of the indemni-
~ owing TO Russia in respect of the war
of 1871. although the amount was greatly
reduced by the congress of Berlin from
that which she had bound herself BY the
treaty OF San Stefano TO pay to the Mus
eovite treasury.
Russia JOgs sultan.
Russia never permits the Sultan to for
get this liability, but only really puts the
screws on when she wishes 10 obtain
from him some other concessions, which
he invariably grants, rather than open
up his purse strings for an installment of
his debt. 1t would take far too much
space to enumerate here all the various
violations Of the treaty of Berlin that
have taken place since 1878. It is no ex-
asgerationoto state that il has been 1T
orally torn 10 shreds; and since what may
be described as the charter OF the Con-
cert OF Europe has thus disappeared. IL is
only natural that the concert itself
should cease 70 exist.
No one has contributed more 10 the de-
structiOn Of this so-called Concert of Eu-
rope than that extremely astUte poll
tician, Sultan Abdul Hamed of Turkey,
who has taken 10 heart the prophecy OF
the founder Of Islam when. in his polit-
ical testament. he told his adherents that
their future strength would lie more In
the dissensions of the Christian than in
the unaided endeavors OF the faithful.
Many Christian Soldiers.
When Sultan Mahommed seized Con-
stantinople. in the fifteenth century. and
substituted the crescent for the cross on
the dome of the ancient basilica OF St.
Sofia. now a mosque, he was able to boast
that throughout the siege he had had
more Christians in his army before the
walls Of Stamboul than the last Christian
Emperor of ByZantium possessed among
the defenders. And il is stated on good
authority that when the Morocco question
first became acute the Sultan Of Turkey
dispatched an envoy 10 the court OF FeZ
with a message to the effect that the
Sultan OF Morocco would do well TO
bear in mind the prophets warning-that
Islam's strength lies in the feuds Of
ChristendOm' 1t is by following the ad-
vice of the prophet that the present Turk
ish ruler has managed 10 defeat all the
attempts OF the powers 10 compel him 10
adopt with regard to his Christian sub
jects, measures and reforms calculated to
give offense 10 his Mosle1h lieges and to
impair his spiritual prestige throughout
the Mahommedan world. In the most
marvelOusly clever way he has known
how to take advantage Of the jealoUsies
of the leading foreign governments, 10
foster strife among them. and It may be
Of interest 10 add that one OF the states
men, reputed 10 have been the most able
counselor Of the Padishah IN this direc-
ton. is the father of the present Turkish
envoy at Washington.
Resistance Is EGecfuRI
Thanks to this. he has been able to not
only offer an efectual resistance 10 all
attempts to compel him 20 live up to the
stipulations of the treaty OF Berlin in
connection with the administration of the
Christian provinces Of his empire. but
has also so greatly increased his influence
with his own Moslem subjects. and with
the followers Of the prophet in all other
parts of the world. that he is to-day un-
doubtedly the most powerful Mahom-
medan ruler of the modern era; a ruler
who has brought things TO such a pass
that he can AFFORD 10 ignore the demands
Of any one. or even two, foreign govern
ments. assured as he is that ne viii be
supported in his attitude by one or more
OF their colleagues in the now defunct
Concert of Europe.
II is impossible 90 deny that Abdul
Hamed has been encouraged to a great
extent in this by the attitude Of the pres
ent German Emperor. The latter. who
has visited COnstantinople on several oc-
casiOns and who is the only now reign
ing monarch who IS on terms Of personal
acquaintance and even Of friendship.
with the Sultan. has, ever since he real
lied that the treaty of Berlin was des-
tined 20 become a mere figure Of speech.
adopted course of policy calculated 10
further in Turkey the interests OF the
German empire rather than those Of the
Concert Of Europe
Kaiser Promotes Trade.
He took the ground that it was more
sensible, and. above all, more patriotic, to
promote German industry and trade in
the Orient by cultivating the friendship
of the Porte than by forfeiting Moslem
good will in endeavoring to force upon
the Ottoman government reforms TO
which even those whom it IS intended TO
benefit thereby are averse. He has all
along declined TO become a PARTY to any
attempt 20 compel Abdul Hamed 70 gov
ern Macedonia according to Western
methods.
Macedonia is peOpled partly by Ma
honmedans and partly by a conglomera-
ton Of Christian races. who are always
hghtlng among one another. There are
Greeks there VINO wish for the annexation