Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-12
EUROPE IN UNREST
Existing Alliances Near to
Breaking Under Strain.
TURKEY A TROUBLE CAUSE
Signs That German influence Is at
Last on Wane.
OPPORTUNITY FOR ENGLAND
May Prevail Upon Porte to Join the
Triple Entente-Germany Failed
in the Crisis.
Special Cablecram to The Star


two great international European COM
binations, the triple alliance or the triple
entente. If Germany loses the conf
dence OF Turkey she will have only her
self to blame. for no other power has had
her chance with the sick man
Germany Became Paramount.
During the last years of the reign of
the deposed Sultan Abdul Hamid, Ger
man influence gradually became para
mount at Constantinople. Practically
thrown over by England, the sultan. in
his dread Of Russia's increasing infiu-
ence, turned to Germany for protection.
German officers were engaged to train
his army, which they succeeded in plac-
ing on efficient footing and German
capital and enterprise contributed to the
Improvement of regions which had Deen
sadly neglected
Such was the state OF affairs when the
first revolution took place and Turkey
was endowed with the constitution which
had been so long promised and so long
deferred. This transformation was hail
ed with infinite satisfaction by the liberal
powers of the west, who looked forward
to fresh and happy era, and also ex-
pected that under the new regime the
Ottoman empire would naturally crawl
tate to their orbit All these fond hopes
were disappointed by the policy pursued
by the new government. which not only
failed to ameliorate the domestic situa
After the abortive counter-revolution. as
to the precise origin Of which very
strange and apparently fully justified
suspicion is entertained and after the en-
forced abdication of Abdul Hamid, things
went on as before, as regards the methods
employed at home and Turkeys relations
with the foreign powers. The explana-
ton is that. like the deposed sultan. the
famous Saloniki committee is devoted to
Germany. Some Of its members are al
legged to have very solid reason for their
support Of that power. and good care
has also been taken that its praises shall
be sung by a portion Of the local press.
Helps German Trade.
All this Is to the advantage not only OF
the German government. but also OF
German trade and industry, and so strong
is the notorious committee of union and
progress, which has a substantial ma
jority in the reichstag. that no ministry
can act In opposition to It's wishes. 1 am
assured. too. that most OF the officers
Of high rank In the Turkish army also
entertain strong German sympathies as
a result of the training which they have
undergone. and, indeed, that the army at
large is filled with admiration Of German
prestige.
On the other hand. there IS no doubt
that German statesmen have committed
a very serious mistake by not preventing
Italy's rash declaration Of war over Trip
oil. Germany might have prevented this
war If she had wanted to, and II her
government had not allowed itself to be-
come implicated in q dispute with France
over Morocco In order to get hold OF a
strip of useless African territory which
man taxpayers millions and millions OF
marks before 1t begins to show any en-
tries on the credit side OF the ledger.
At the time when the TripoH question
was raised Germany was unable to act,
and a considerable outlay of money at
Constantinople Is in danger Of being
wasted, for deep discomfort has been
caused throughout Turkey by the fact
that a province is being wrested from the
Ottoman empire by a nation allied with
Germany.
London Not Advised.
To make matters worse from a German
point OF view, the fact has leaked out
that while the Italian government at an
early date announced its plans in regard
to Tripoli to Berlin and Vienna. 1t said
absolutely nothing about them at London
and Paris. and thus there is nothing to
keep the Turks from believing that IL
their old friend. England. had known
she might have prevented Italy from de-
claring war
This fact opens diplomatic chance for
England to supersede Germany's infiu
ence in Turkey and make the country
join the triple entente. In fact. many in
telligent Turks are even now asking them
selves Of what use Is the friendship of q
power whose ally Is at war with their
country. and these indictments are turn
Ing to England for aid.
If Turkey Is eventually to enter the
-ev.12 40 =.
England. There have been reports from
time to time Of the adhesion of the Otto
man empire to the triple alliance. but
these rumors. II they were ever credited,
have been shown by recent events to be
utterly false and unfounded. German
friendship has not saved Turkey from
attack by Italy, and growing distrust at
Constantinople is the result.
But. a matter Of fact, all these
stories about Turkeys readiness to join
this or that grouping of the powers are
absolutely premature. and are merely
prompted by the decidedly intricate sit Ia
ton. One thing however. seems to be
tolerably clear. AS long as the commit
cult and sinister influence Germany will
retain her predominant position at the
porte There are. however. signs that
this influence is on the wane. for weak
ening blow has been dealt by recent
dismal experiences
If determined effort were made to
shake off the domination of the Saloniki
committee German prestige would
dwndle with it, and then recourse might
be had to England as the traditional
friend of Turkey, and so the entry Of the
Ottoman empire into the triple entente
might be effected. 1t Is decidedly to the
interest Of England that this should come
about. IL only on account Of her large
Mohammedan population in India among
whom intrigue has already begun. AS a
great Mohammedan power. 1t is OF the
utmost Importance that England should
be on close and friendly terms with Con-
stantnople. But England,s gain would
be Germanys loss. and should Turkey
decide to join France. England and Rus
STA. it would be blunder which II would
take the German people long to forget.
Delays Moroccan Debate.
In Germany itself the imperial chan
cellor. Herr Won Bethmann-Hellweg. has
succeeded in inducing the reichstag to
postpone all interpretations on his foreign
politics, as the answers might reveal too
much OF his plan to other powers. but he
has had to promise that the reichstag
cho h., cv;1, nJo onn0rfnnifv FOR dis