Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-31
HOPE AND FEAR Join
New Year Means Much to Ger
mans of All Classes.
TURNING POINT IN HISTORY
Taxridden Masses Hopeful While No.
bility Fears Upheaval.
RUSSIA AND TURKEY AT ODDS
Cars Government Demands Free
Passage for Warships Through
the Dardanelles.
TURNING POINT IN HISTORY
RUSSIA AND TURKEY AT ODDS
Special Cablegram to The Star.

Special Cablegram to The Star.
BERLIN, December 3O-In twenty -four
hours all the church bells of Berlin will
begin to chime in the new year, which
is being looked forward to with so much
fear by the nobility and hierarchy, and
with a corresponding amount of hope by
the dOwntrodden, taXridden masses of
the people. We are standing on the
threshold of 1912, which, it has been
prophesied, marks the turning point in
the history of the Hohenzollern family
and of the empire. Figuratively speak
ing, Germany is at present like an I'M
mensely swift, deep and broad river; its
surface is calm and unruffled, but be-
meath the smoothness the gigantic stream
is rushing forward toward the great
whirlpools of the election of January II,
which may capsize many a proud political
vessel.
Two weeks from now the German pco-
pie will be the masters of their own des-
tiny at the polls. They have II in their
power to crush those who nave for years
been piling on heavier burdens, and no
one doubts that they viii make use of
their power, that democracy will make a
mighty stride forward through political
evolution, peacefully and without rancor.
Militarism and bureaucracy may receive
their deathblOw, but the country is safe
in the hands of it's citizens, and the gen.
eral political situation in Europe will i'm
prove as a result of the coming elections.
Constantinople Uneasy.
Aside from the war in TripoI, the only
dark spot on the International sky is the
fact that Russia's reported intentions in
regard to the Dardanelles is causing con-
siderable uneasiness in Constant.nopie.
Russia has chosen the psychological
moment for raising this old question:
question of vital Importance to The car
empire-and she Is now employing all
the means at her disposal to have it
solved congruously with her interests.
Her point of view is simple. Sne de-
mands free passage through the straits
for her warships in time of peace.
"a privilege for Russia" ask the
Turks.
mo, not for Russia only" replies the
czars ambassador. who thereupon formu
lates principle which would entail this
privilege, but without the exclusiveness.
territories are washed by the Black sea
or the strait should enjoy that right to
the exclusion of all other states-all
without exception. Bulgaria and Rou-
warships, may take them through the
straits as we'll as Turkey and Russia.
Every leading Turkish statesman as
serts that Turkey will never nccede to
Russia's demands, and that she is even
prevented from discussing them at all,
first because the London protocol is
binding upon all the signatory powers
without exception, and, therefore, no two
of these powers can dispense themselves
from observing its stipulatiOns, and then
because the Berlin congress went further
and bound Turkey and Russia. each one
in respect to every other power. For this
reason the porte cannot consent to listen
to Russia's proposal, which would plainly
constitute a breach Of treaty obligation.
Turkey Would Be sPersianized."
A prominent Turkish statesman, the