Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-31
THE QUESTION OF THE NEAR EAST

veritable reconciliation took place be-
| tween Russia and Austria, between whom
there was GOODNESS since the annexation
| Of snia-Herzegovina in 1905. In leaV-
! ing Belgrade the Grand Duke Nladimiro-
witch went to Vienna. where the en-
thusiasm of public and press
great as his reception at court was
cordial
IL is certain that Austria's influence
has increased since 1anS and in is scarcely,
| probable that the action of the Balkan
states would have been sanctioned with
out the assent OF Austria. The latter ap-
pears TO have replaced Russia as tho
financial protectress OF Montenegro. and
her influence is preponderant at Sofia.
VINO. then. may prevent Austria from oc-
cupying the sandjak of Novibazar? IL
financial considerations are not a factor
there may be the fear OF displeasing
Germany or the well known aversion or
FRANCIS Joseph against any new warlike
venture
From any point from which the pieces
on the checkerboard are viewed tho
iiorlZoh OF the near east, TO say nothing
Oh tilat OF the impossible far east, is more
overcast with clouds than ever and more
than ever these clouds threaten Turkey
Italy has taken Tripoli-at least il must
be assumed she will complete her pos
session when the additional 10 600 mon
now route for the Tripolitau shall
have been landed. Why, may II not he
asked, has not Austria manifested oppo-
sition 10 this Italian venture i'm Tripo,
Is IL because Russia fayors Italv and
because there is entente-ror some reason
not altogether clear-befween Russia and
Austria?
A dispatch from Paris dated March 3
announced:
THE movement Of Russia in favor of
Italy, with its probable result in rap
prochemcnt between Rus
Russia STA, Italy and Austria is
M. considered to make a sit
uation OF peculiar delicacv.
and Russia's motives in this step are re-
ceving the fullest discussion. II is
pointed out that since the beginning OF
Italy's war i'm TripoIi Russa's attitude
has been extremely curious. She is the
only nation in the European concert that
regarded the Tripoli expedition with
marked sympathy
And the dispatch. which is a long one.
goes on to say that Russia has not given
up that "aee-long dream and objection OF
her religion and politics supremacy
over Turkey and the occupation of Con-
Stantinope, the mecca of the orthodox
church. that she may take the risk of
abandoning her position of neutrality ana
siding with Italy.
1t is assumed. indeed, by the author
of the aforementioned dispatch that
there is complete agreement between
the views of Italy and Russia as To the
Balkan and Mediterranean questions
and that this will be made manifest to
the great surprise of the diplomatic
world on the arrival at Constantinople
of the Russian envoy, NJ. Switchine.
well known for his Italian sympathies.
Paris is not alone i'm being affected
by what is termed there by the press
an international crisis. From Lon
YxxrTa
student of international politics. de-
scribes the situation as Europa i'm a ht
of nerves." situation which created panics
on some of the continental bourses.
Mr.. Wolf affirms that the apprehensions
of the week are based upon the reported
relations of Russia and Italy.
Italy and He recalls the gneeting of NJ.
Isvolsky and Sgnor Tittoni
huSSIa. at Desio in 1908 and at Rome
in 1869, and finally the meeting of the
car and King Victor at Racconigi, where
the Russo-Italian entente was consum-
mated. NJ. Wolf asks:
What one would like to know is what
is the precise or at any rate the general
scope of the policy which Isvolsky and
Tittoni appear to have settled between
them with the approval presumably of
the car on the one hand and the Italian
government on the other
And NJ. Wolf continues:
IF il were only a question of pushing
forward intervention at Constantinople
on behalf of peace, due account being
taken of existing alliances and ententes,
Europe would not worry, but the whole
tendency of the lsvolsky-Tittoni scheme
seems to be to attain its end by COM
inn nf frnn "a
thirds of the triple entente is virtually
excluded. While Germany and Austria
are apparently in the secret France and
Great Britain are held at arms length
Young Turkey, which was liberal after
the revolution of 1905, gave to all Europe
the firm faith that she
Disappointment had begun life anew
Alas. IL proved cruel
III AuAo deception The COM
mittee of union and progress has
strangled to death nation inspired by
the most generous impulses. Courts
martial have resumed their former func-
tions with ferocious ardor, the liberal
press has been gagged and suppressed.
race and religious persecution has been
practiced as under the sinister reign Of
Abdul Hamid and the prosecuted Of the
Yemen and of Albania have revolted and
are threatening renewed revolt.
Now Turkey, not yet recovered from
the shock of revolution, in place of alb
staining from entangling European ALI
ances and apparently unmindful of the
consequences of England's protection.
which had cost Turkey her sovereignty
over Egypt, Turkey accepted Germany's
protectorate.
GermanyS quasi protectorate has been
no less disastrous than that of Eng
lands. 1t was Germany that coun-
seled Austria, her ally, to tear up the
treaty of 1873 and definitely appropriate
the Turkish provinces of Bosnia-Herze-
govna and the probable extension OF
Austrian power to Saloniki. 1t was Ger
many perhaps that counseled Italy. am
other ally, to seize and occupy the Turk
ish yilayet of the Tripolitan.
Turkey cannot but regard with alarm
the entertainments of Russia and Eng
land upon the Moslem powers OF Per
STA. as We'll as that Egypt, Morocco and
Tripoli In turn have passed from under
the influence and control of the caliphate
1t was the kaiser at Tangier who stepped
into the breach and loudly proclaimed
himself not only the savior OF the sui
tan. but the defender of the Moslem