Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-01
Ultimatum
Presented.

tnal III d reply was noN
1fesehteo. received within twenty
four hours after delivery Italy would pro-
coed to occupy Tripoli.
Italy besides demanded satisfaction for
the various grievances which we have
heretofore noted, and among these the
arbitrary arrests of italian subjects at
Constantinople. the seizure Of an Italian
bark at Hodeidah. the abduction of an
Italian girl by an Ottoman and the refusal
of the Turkish authorities to compel her
surrender, and the insecurity of Italian
subjects in Tripoi.
Inquiry was made whether Germany
would make friendly Intervention and II
was answered that reply was not easy.
Italy was able to treat alone with Tur-
KEY and did not solicit assistance from
any other power, even that of her good
ally.
The morning after the conversations"
at Berlin which are announced as having
been satisfactorily concluded. Italy's Ill
timatum is significant, and induces the
thought that the ultimatum was made d
part of the conversations at Berlin be-
tween Germany. France and England. il
being understood that Russia and Italy
were interested parties.
1t will be borne i'm mind that Turkey s
present dictatorial attitude in the matter
of Crete, in which she summons the pro-
tecting powers to execute certain prom
Uses made to Turkey in recognition Of the
latter's suzerainty. places the protecting
powers in the most embarrassing position.
England. France. Russia and Italy con-
stitute these protecting powers and there
is little wonder that representing Chris
tan Europe they hesitate and refuse in
fact to hand over Crete to Turkey.
\ :;
Turkey under Abdul-Hamid was in a
situation to be carved up and passed
around to the several
Turkish hungry peoples who
awaited the carving. The
fartltlOn. advent of the Young
Turk lent renewed life to Turkey, but
there has been, il appears, a relapse.
Has the hour of sacrifice come? Have
the protecting powers decided to carve UP
Turkey? Has Italy been chosen as the
amphitryon?
1t would tax the powers of a prophet,
which we are not, to distribute Turkey
satisfactorily. But ii may interest the
reader to suggest the following: Tripoli,
with certain parts of Albania, to Italy
Macedonia and Crete to Greece, Asia
Minor, Syria to Germany. France and
England, leaving the carcass CONSTANT
nople) to Turkey as the ward of the pro-
tecting powers.
The government at Rome has played
the game of hide and seek very sue
cessfully with the public 1t caused the
press to bear the burden of forcing the
hand of government in occupying Tripoli
when government would not and coulo
not do such a thing. The government
would check the flow of false and con-
Lotto were
brought into the game as a power op-
posed to intervention in Tripon. Never
theless the press published the program
of an intervention, which is that which
according to the latest dispatches. has
been followed in detail The socialist
threat of a general strike was a pure
mystincation. for all Italy-royalist. re-
publican and socialist-favors Intervention
in ripoli.
A dispatch to the London Times cited
the Yeni Gazette of Constantinople as au-
thority for the statement that the porte
would declare theeboycott of Italian goods
at Tripolitan ports.
Finally the government of the porte
appears to have become conscious that
something more vigorous than boycotting
was necessary to counteract the aggres-
siveness of Italy. Instructions were sent
the Turkish ambassador at Rome de-
manding an explanation of the ineXpli-
cable movements executed by Italian
merchant ships. Several Italian con-
sular agents." it was reported, had or
dered Italian ships bound for Turkish
ports to return.
The official press endeavored to create
the impression that the government was
much grieved over the
Italian attitude of the general
press and presented
0x O1uCntS. following arRu-
ments to those who favored intervention:
The Tripolitan is Turkish province;
Turkey, to which it belongs. is one OF the
strongest military powers in Europe: II
Italy should occupy Tripoli ito would.
doubtless, provoke bloody war with
Turkey; should Italy under such circum-
stances undertake such risks? was il
prudent. was 1t patriotic. then. to con-
tinue to cry from the housetops for the
OCCUPATION of Tripoli? The Italian jour
nails which continued TO demand the oc-
cupation placed government in an ap-
parent embarrassing attitude.
The Italian government, nevertheless,
hoped to secure the friendly action OF
France England and Germany in Undue
ing Turkey to accept some solution or the
question. Certainly the agreements MADE
with France and England had awakened
Italy the dSpndliolS "h4ti is1-N-A
press had most unwisely assumed 10 ex-
plot, in place of leaving that task TO
government.
Such was the tone of the official press
in Italy and 1t appears to have closed
the eyes and ears to what the government
was really doing.
A diplomat well informed OF the
true state of affairs recently declared that
NJ Prinatti, who was minister or foreign
affairs in 1902, had endeavored to decide
tI. tuii III.
But Giolitti had scruples and opposed
il. 1t was necessary in his opinion to wait
for a more suspicious occasion.
Abdul-Hamid disappeared, and in his
place the Young Turks arose with ideas OF
reform which gave promise or renewed
life to Turkey. The occasion wnlch NJ
Giolitti awaited seemed now more remote
than ever Germany's relations with the
Young Turk were intimate and cordial.
1t was doubtful that Germany would
consent to act as mediator and patch up
a. peace become difficult TO maintain be-
tween Turkey and Italy. Could the
socialists of Italy and Germany determine
the kaiser to intervene in favor OF Italy
and then strengthen the ties that bound
the latter to the triplice? The present
occasion might appeal to the kaiser. who
had been pulling chestnuts out Of the fire.
employing others in the work, for Ger
many's benefit.
But the Young Turk recently has given
evidence that he does not work well In
harness which Germany would have him
wear His aspirations in a word are pam
Islamic and not pan-Germanic. Be-