Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-24
LIKES THE 9R|TONS
Russian Foreign Minister
Drops Into London.
CONFERENCE ON BALKANS
Turkeys Attitude on the Darda-
nelles Is Discussed.
FERDINAND AND BULGARIA
British Views on Recent Proclama-
ton Of Independence-Rou-
mania Criticised.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

| Special Correspondence OF The Star.
LONDON, October II, 1908.
| In official quarters here the greatest
Importance is now attached to the ar
| rival in London of M. Isvolsky. the
Russian foreign minister. and Sir Edward
Grey will confer with him at once on
the situation in the Balkans. NJ. Isvolsky' s
visit WIS arranged before the existing
| crisis had arisen, but an official COM
munication which has come to hand from
Paris, where he has been staying. makes
| 1t clear, 1 am told. that he is favorable
to the proposal for the convention of a
European conference, and that. without
wishing In any way to complicate mat
| ters or to bend the other powers he
would have the opening of the Darda-
nelles discussed, and, from what I am
told by a German authority this after
noon. it would seem that no opposition
is at the moment to be expected to be
offered to this course in Berlin.
The strong objection displayed in many
differing quarters to the idea of conven-
ing a European conference to deal with
Austria Hungary and Bulgaria'S violation
of the Berlin treaty Is mainly due. of
course to the belief that such a body
Russian request for an amendment of
the treaty of LOndon-in itself modifica-
ton of the treaty of Paris-in regard to
the passage of the straits.
But it is not to be forgotten that when
Russia really desires to raise the ques-
ton she will not wait the opportunity of
any European conference. She inserted
the thin end of the wedge, indeed, just
exactly six years ago. when she
refused to admit the porte's contention
that the international convention regard
ing the passage of the Dardanelles and
the B0phorus by foreign warships could
be made to apply to the four unarmed
torpedo boats which Russia then wished
to pass under her commercial flag, and
insisted on her request being granted.
The result of this insistence upon the
part of Russia was that the porte yielded
and authorized the passage Of the tor
the Dardanelles, opened up a new phase
of very old, extremely complicated
problem.
AS to the general question Of the OAR
danelles, there is this fact to be borne
in mind, which is of special significance
in the present extremely curious posi-
ton Of international affairs. that If overt
action with reference to the straits is at
any time contemplated they have in re-
cent years been thoroughly armed under
German supervision. This was originally
done as far back as 1885. while twelve
years later after the Turco-Greek war,
all the ambassadors OF the powers ex-
cept the German showed much curiosity
to know the further plans of the porte
for strengthening the Dardanelles de-
lenses. These were devised by German
officers, and the efforts were intended to
be financed by German bankers. but they
were not allowed to be carried out in
their entirety Turkey had gone SO far,
indeed, as to come to an agreement with
the agents of the krupp and Vulkan COM
panies, under which those German firms
practically undertook the whole rearm-
ing Of the forts along the Dardaneles.
but Russia had wind of this, and prompt
ly put a stop to 1t by the old method of
threatening the porte because Of the un-
paid portions of the war indemnity of
1873
Turkey Feeling Her Way.
In 1899. however. Turkey once more be-
gan feeling her way in the matter, and
plans and estimates were submitted to
the porte by three artillery offcers-two
of whom were Germans-in this connec-
ton, and the sultans permission was
sought for the ordering of the material
and the execution of the works. while at
the same time the Turkish government
contemplated the giving of considerable
commissions for war material, including
the most modern ordnance for forts along
the Bosphorus. But the customary lack
of pence that aff1icts the Ottoman empire
interfered to prevent the more ambitious
portions of these various schemes from
being carried into execution, and If the
provisions of the treaty of London were
now to be set aside at Russias desire
there would be little necessity for the
porte to revive them.
When Baron 1SvolSky left st. Petersburg
last month he intended-or pretended-to
make a pleasure tour of the European
capitals. including Copenhagen, where he
was once Russian minister, and Berlin.
fIo {y-ivn has hnxr
into one of serious diplomatic intercourse
with his confrereS.
He is-politically-a stanch friend OF
England, and has many English friends
and sympathies. The king took liking
to him on their first meeting last year at
Marienbad. and NJ. Isvolsky reciprocated
that feeling, and speaks of King Edward
and the kaiser as 1.-The two biggest men
in Europe When he was Russian min
lister at Toxic lie clearly foresaw the
Japanese-Russian war. and to his friends
he forecasted the result: 1--WE shall be
BEATEN" he said, land it will be entirely
our own fault"
NJ. Isvolsky is Just fifty years old, but
of the Russian In his appearance. Tall.
slim and extremely well dressed Che al
ways has his clothes made in London), he
gives one the impression of a we'll bred
Englishman. and as a matter of fact,
through an ancestor he has some English
blood in his veins. Nevertheless. he
talks only fair English. and that with
strong accent. French Is his favorite
language, though he speaks German
fiuently.
When King Edward conferred on him
the Victorian Order last year at Marien-
bad he said that he would rather wear
one English decoration than ten miscel-
laneous ones of other countries. This
may have been mere politeness on his
part. but it is fact that he is an Anglo
phile through and through and admires
everything English. from its climate and
foreign politics to its horses and fashions
He has a handsome fortune OF his own,
added to which Russia pays him salary
of 1880 as foreign minister.
Stories Of Prince Ferdinand.
Prince Ferdinand the new Tsar of Bull
garia, has suffered a good deal from
superficial opinions expressed by travel
ers. They have been inclined to make too
much of his fondness for titles and or
ders. his stiffness of etiquette, and his
costly state. Stories about ministers be-
ing compelled to kiss the hand of Prince
Boris when he was OF the mature age of
| three and Directing until the formality
was withdrawn. about the little prince
being never sent out for a drive without
a high ecclesiasuc in his company and q
| mounted escort, and SO on, were easily
picked up, but hardly sufficed as an ex-
PLANTATION of Bulgaria's ambitions In
deed, II much worse things were said OF
| him they would still fall short Of an
| ans to the Rul0a rianS' fnahlifv RI SEQ