Evening star., 1909-05-09
ORIENTAL QUESTION UNSETTLED

ma ng from the Yildiz palace. and they
nev&S really knew whether the sultan
was their .ns or taear eave
have sent it in the utmost good faith.
in ignorance of the facts; the writer can
not insist. But in 1S69-1O the writer re-
calls pertinently that when an American
military mission was sent to Egypt to
overturn the authority there of Sultan
Abd-ul-Aziz, aid substitute the reign Of
an autonomous and independent Egypt.
England then knew that the sultan was
her friend. because England interviewed in
the sultan's favor and prevented the
movement for Egyptian independence.
A&
NJ de Vogue. In a leading article in
the Figaro Of April 81. entitled STAN
boul and Saloniki.'' says:
Pacific After six months Of dip
lomatic apprehensions Of
AenoonSy' evil and sinister predic.
tions in the press, the Balkanc Quarrels
were settled: all that remained was to
contract loans. We do not so to war
any more except to exact tribute and
pick up booty. our modern captains are
content with tribute which they may pro-
cure without drawing sabers. 1t Is the
progress OF civilization; the peace OF ma
IlOnS Is tnuS GudTdnleeQs every OOuy 10
half satisfied. princes. diplomats. finan-
ciers filters in of the French 'bas de
laine.' which may become in way the
palladium Of universal tranquility"
NJ. de Vogue tells us of the changes
which have brought a czar to the throne
Of Bulgaria. and that the independence
which Ferdinand has conquered on his
own territory may be only step toward
another goal, referring to Slav ambitions.
All this points to the necessity that Sa-
1nnfli rQnlQca SfQnh0ul the fIl-
ture capital of new Turkey.
Saloniki is situated at the base OF
beautiful gulf, lacking only some wharfs
to constitute one Of the most beautiful
a beautiful city OF 1850 Inhabitants
and within forty-eight hours OF the Suez
canal. Joined to the Danube by rapid
railway lines. 1t will attract the COM
Europe. While in direct communication
with the far east. 1t offers advantages
over Marseille. Genoa and Trieste. Po-
litically It's proximity to the Dardanelles
will permit it's masters to hold the key
Stamboul will be as a Jewel in a mu-
scum inclosed In a casket. Once mistress
Of the eastern Mediterranean and OF the
Balkanic peninsula she will pass with her
riches in the hands Of those who possess
seem to predestine Saloniki as the sue
cessor Of Stamboul. too far removed from
the grand commercial routes to be in
the future that which were formerly In
ancient times Byzance and Alexandria
-
The advantages Of Saloniki were known
intelligent and energetic
Eerdinand's Ferdinand. who. In the
apparent disintegra t 4 o n
GOISSlKuLs - nN,vL ~
for a brief moment the possible heir to
the heritage Of the Osmanlis.
The advantages Of Saloniki were still
better known at Vienna. Saloniki could
restore, perhaps, to the empire of Charles
v its power and fortune Of early days.
M. de Vogue says that Austria has pro-
duced q statesman who may dare to do
anything to precipitate the Austrian
eagles against the city Of such rich prom
ises. For the peace of the world he
hopes not. The day when the worlds
great interests the Intervention OF finan-
ciers will be futile.
Saloniki has become by a singular pre-
destination the last intrenchment In
Europe Of the power Of the iurk. the
Young Turk. who has won the admiration
Of the world in the recent evolution Of his
country. and Europe, disinterested Eu-
rope. will regard his establishment at
Saloniki as guarantee Of peace and
good will among the various races and
religions that compose the new regime Of
constitutional Turkey.
The Weiner Allgemine Zeitung takes
the Young Turk party to task for its
unseemly exposure of the bodies Of those
who were shot or hung for their heartless
assassinations. 'The Young Turks 1t
says. 'show underneath the profession of
modernism that they are impregnated
with old nomadic habits and that they
-
civilization. The crust of the civilization
Of the Young Turks is very thin"
On the contrary. European civilization
would doubtless have made examples of
exposed their bodies as WELL in order to
serve as a salutary lesson to public
which thirsting for blood could only be
restrained by such manifestation of
authority.
Mr.. Roden Buxton has written a book
entitled Turkey in Revolution" The
author is liberal and
Young was In Turkey on the
eve of the revolution. and
AuiAs' he says that tho Young
Turks are worthy of the greatest consid-
GRAFTON. ''They deserve" he declares.
1.-THE Admiration of the civilized world in
spirit for freedom and self-expression
They have struck one Of the great blows
to that end. powerful. timely and
straight
The London Times Of April 20 publishes
a letter of the Balkan committee on the
situation in Turkey, from which the fol-
lowing is an extract:
1.-THE Balkan committee was founded
with the sole aim Of arousing public |
opinion in England to a sense OF the sit |
uaton of the Macedonian population un- |
der Abdul Hamid's despotism. It cannot |
forget that the Young Turks alone |
brought these massacres to an end. or |
dissembie the gratitude which 1t still |
feels for their services to humanity.
While they continue as a party in the |
chamber and as the predominant organi- |
cation in the provinces. to insure order |
and personal liberty. to enforce toler- |
ance and to struggle against corruption. |
personal rule and religious fanaticisms. |
they deserve the confidence OF European |
civilization and the sympathies OF the |
British people"
The Balkan committee. 1t goes without |
saying, attributes the anarchy that reigns /
In Asia Minor to the inspiration and act |
of desperation of Abdul Hamid, who |
thus hoped to maintain his throne by
lighting the fires OF holy war.
There are still many clouds In the east
ern sky One OF these is named Crete.