New-York tribune., 1908-11-08
ENGLAND IN A oUANDARY.

England. on the other hand. finds herself n
q considerable ouandary. She has repeatedly
,iven Russia To understand within the last na4t
century that any violation OF the treaty stpul2-
tIons with regard to the Dardanelles would 90
considered as a casus beln Last year now
ever. Great Britain negotiated several treaIeS
with Russia, with the object OF converting her
from "a latent foe into a frm friend, and N
order TO secure this understanding made many
important sacrifices. especially In connection
,-itb Persia These treaties gave 50 much onencs
to the entire MosIem world-in Turkey IN INDIA
IN Egypt and IN Afghanistan. where Russia has
srvrays been regarded as the hereditary enemy
~ IsIar-that they were bitterly condemned oY
Tord Curzon and other statesmen acquainted
with Oriental affairs, on account OF the cost az
which Russian friendship-always q douotrui
asset-had been purchased Indeed. II Englano
adheres to her former policy with regard 70 ms
Dardanelles and raises her voice In favor OK
maintaining the bars against Russia IN ths
straits she will forfeit all the friendship and al
the advantages OF one kind and another WHICH
she sacrificed much 70 secure last year
II, on the other hand. England yields TO Rus
sia's wishes. as there Is every reason TO oehevs
that she will. Judging from the recent remarks
in the House Of Commons by Sir Edward Grey.
Secretary OF State for Foreign Affairs, when
questioned about the matter. then she loses al
the good will and prestige among the Turks
which she has recently recovered since the con-
stitutioraI coup d'etat at Constantinopla IN
fact shouid England defer TO Russia's preten-
siors in connection with the Dardanelles. shs
would offend not only the Turks. but the entirs
MosIern world. q very serious consideration,
since she has some 3OOOO.0O0 AIahometans sub
feet to her rule in Africa and SO.OOO.OoO more In
India, where they have thus far constituted the
~ zTlr
Hindu disloyaIty disanection and revolt.
France and Italy may be relied upon 70 20 with
their respective allies In the matter, and It IS
improbable that either Of them will raise any
serious objection Italy. indeed. is not IN a
position TO do so, either from naval or ulili-
tary point Of view, Just at present, busy as shs
Is with the rearmament OF her troops and tas
reorganization Of her feet
1t remains TO be seen whether II this right
Is accorded to Russia. namely. that OF free PAS
sage through ths DardaneIles for her ships Of
war, It will not be claimed by a number OF
other powers Japan has already given an ind-
cation OF the fact that she has some such
object in view by the demands OF her srnbas-
sador IN Paris on the French government. Then
1t must be borne IN mind that Russia Is not
the only country In the southeast Of EBrops
which has a navy interested IN this opening
OF the entrance to the Black Sea Thus Bui-
Rumania while. owing to the freedom OF the
Danube, Austria Hungary's fleet on that river
IS TO be considered It is a question whether
the pretensions OF these various powers regard
Ing the Euxine'S entrance can best bs dealt
with separately by congress. But II there
IS a congress- the question OF compensation Of
Montenegro and Of servia In certain to os
raised by Russia. and since Austria would GER
tainly not dream OF granting them any terri
g
Porte which would probably be asked 70 psy
the piper. by surrendering to King Peter and
to the Prince OF the Black Mountain ths Sand
jak OF Novt-Bazar, to oe divided between theuH
From this II viii be seen that Servia and Mon
tenegro are the only two countries likely 20
benefit by any congress and il l. exceedingly
doubtful therefore. whether Il would be held
were II not for the fact that It's decisions VIII
afford TO England an excuse for saving bar
face in connection with the opening OF tho Da--
daneles. In tho eyes OF the Turks and % h=
Moslem subjects in india and IN Africa
1t has been suggested that the question 81
the Dardanelles-which owe their name 70 Dar-
danus. who crossed the Hellespont on inflated
skins to found the Trojan city Of DardaniA~-
could be settled by the neutraiizing OF ths
straits. much in the same way as ths sues
Canal. which Is open to warships IN tina Of
peace. and even 20 beIligerent vessels IN war.
provided they do not stay In the canal com
NIT acts OF war IN II. and only take %
board there minimum quantity OF coal Bus
the conditions are not quite the same. Ths
Suez Canal washes the cuays OF no great Orien-
tai city. nor does II pass within sight. undsr
the very narrovs indeed. within hailing ds-
tancs. Of the caliph OF Islam The nsurrAilsAr
ton Is the only solution OF the problem. but Il
cannot be adopted without fnnictinG a oae~
upon the prestige OF the Sultan and subject
ing him to humiliation which may arouse ths
entire Moslen world. Ex-ATTAcKR