Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-01
ENGLAND AND REFORMED TURKEY.

The names that burned high in the Bal
kans few days ago have gone down so
far that at this moment
FLAMES the fire appears to be un-
cor+ra,,.s der control. Great Britain.
France and Russia, ac-
cording to the dispatches of October =
from Sofia, have presented joint note TO
the Bulgarian government advising that
Turkey should be paid an equitable COM
pensation in lieu OF the Roumelian trib-
| ute, and this triple recommendation mas
been accepted by the cabinet at soma.
This action has been accompanied by q
pacific declaration by Baron Won Aehren-
thai. the Austro-Hungarian foreign min
lister. on the part OF Austria that the
question of the annexation Of Bosnia and
Herzegovina would not be eliminated from
the program Of the International congress.
The Austro- Hungarian minister further
added that his government would be GLAD
to see the Turko- Bulgarian negotiations
lead to a peaceful conclusion. and while
denying that Servia and Montenegro were
entitled to interfere Austria Hungary was
willing to treat both with benevolence.
This result was obtained by the joint
note Of Great Britain, France and Russia
supported by Germany and Italy. At the
moment when the entire press of Europe,
oS>A
that Germany was behind Austria In the
annexation OF Bosnia-Herzegovina the
writer declared in The Star that he could
not accept this general Interpretation for
the reason that If 1t were 50 "a Bulga-
rian army ere this would have crossed the
frontier anad occupied Adrianople.
Indeed. If we are to believe certain
statements made in the London Teie-
graph of October %. the kaiser 10 not
an enemy OF England but a friend, and
n Ia nj n fhio moment tn cite
from the dispatch (Which appears to have
been officially authorized in Berlin), the
following:
"The German government when the
Boer war was at its height was invited
by France and Russia
Echo OF to join them in calling
uo.- w.- upon England to end
the war. The moment
had come, they said. not only to save
the Boer republic, but also to humiliate
England to the dust. What was my re-
ply? said the kaiser, I said. SO far from
Germany Joining In any concerted Euro
pean action to bring pressure against
England and bring about her downfall,
Germany would always keep aloof from
policies that could bring her into COM
plcations with sea power like Eng
land"
This about face" in Germany's pol
Icy. which we we're taught to believe
was directed against England in the
particularly in Turkey. will create as
much surprise as the recent revolution In
Turkey itself. We are passing from one
surprise to another. The accord just
now assured between England. France
and Russia. which has apparently ex-
tinguished the threatened confagration
IN the Balkans is another surprise which
| may lead US to believe that we are real
iy entered upon a period OF peace that Is
to bring US to the millennium.
LIE Temps Of Paris of October 16. In a
leader entitled Toward q European En-
tente," writes: THE entente that Is as
sured between Russia, France and Eng
land as to the eventual program of the
mencement. It IL six powers and not
three powers only who should be in &C
cord on this question. 1t Is necessary
that all these should be in sincere unani-
nifty before meeting. 1t should not be the
scene Of political conflict Germany and
France look at these events in the orient
in the same way. For this reason we re-
greet that the example set by France for
an exchange of views with Wiihelmstrasse
has not been followed by the cabinets OF
London and st. Petersburg"
Frankly. this is another surprise after
which the world may be excused If it ex-
pected next even-the deluge!
England's policy in Turkey, which for
long time was based upon the integrity
of the Ottoman empire and
Englaud's the Muscovite peril. was
Policy. changed after the latter's
defeat In Manchuria to pro-
lection against the German Drang"
Since 1904 the duel between England and
Germany has been incessant To the kali
ser'S attack at Tangier. England parted
by the entente with France and Spain.
When Germany assumed to replace her
at constantinople. England concluded an
entente with Russia. The revolution IN
Turkey and the re-establishment of the
constitution Of 1876 which practically
withdrew the Sultan Abdul Hamid from
German influence. was a severe reverse to
German policy. which appeared to be Sc
curely enthroned at Constantinople. The
party OF Young Turks. which had engen-
dered the revolution under the cry Of
Turkey for the Turks" looked with
small favor upon the army Of Germans
and Austrians who had worked the sui
tan through the malevolent Izzet to OBJ
tain concessions which threatened the
very life OF Turkey.
The moment vas propitious for England
10 regain ner former place as the pro-
tectress Of Turkey. Scarcely was the
constitution proclaimed when Sir Ed
ward Grey declared officially England )
pleasure and sympathy with which she
followed the phases Of the revolution
These words OF sympathy produced a
marked effect at Constantinople upon the
new government and the people. The
British amha ssador In presenting his let
ters to the new ministry received an ova-
ton from government and people. and
this sympathy was extended to both Rus
| sian and French embassies. A substantial
proof Of friendship was furthermore given
by requesting England to send the new
government an adviser to reform the
Turkish navy, while France was asked
to send them q financial agent to reor-
ganize their finances.
King Edward VII inaugurated his pol
icy OF rapprochement with France by the
convention Of arbitration dated
Chance April 3. 1901. II prior to this
r,o.+ time the kaiser, remembering
the opposition Of Bismarck
to the impolicy Of taking Alsace-Lor-
raine. had proposed the restoration Of
these provinces-even their neutraliza-
.ion-the rapprochement between France
and Germany might have been possible
It was q lost opportunity. which may
never be recovered. About this time
England contracted the Anglo-Japanese
alliance, which was followed In turn by
an Anglo French AnRlO-Spanish AnRIo-