Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-26
The Straits
Reopened.

Italians on the 18th ul-
AeVpcheu. timo. were opened by de-
cree of the council of ministers at Con-
stantinople May 1. For fact IL was not
until the 18th instant that the mines
were removed, an operation requiring ex-
IRENE caution and consequently some de-
lay.
The powers OF Europe represented to
the porte the excessive hardsh:ps which
the closing of the straits imposed upon
their commerce, and NJ. de Giers. amhas-
sador of Russia. insisted that prolonga-
ton OF that situation would inevitably
ALLEVIATE from Turkey the sympathies of
all Europe.
NJ. Sykes. NJ. P, suggested in the Brit
ish parliament that the powers of Ed
rope should obtain from Italy the assur-
ance that the Dardaneues should be eN-
cepted from the zone of war operations
and also that the comhatants consent TO
an armistice
The Tribuna of Rome objected that an
armstice would constitute grave incon-
veniences. An armistice always worked
i'll to one or the other of the bellieerents
In the present case 1t would profit only
Turkey, which at that moment was eN-
polling Italians, and among these the sec
rotary OF the Italian embassy. who was
necessary to the German ambassador, the
marked, had placed no obstacle against
the sOjourn at Rome of the secretary of
the Turkish embassy.
1t was maintained that Turkeys action
in closing the Dardanelles constituted a
dangerous precedent If Turkey might
close tho straits at will 1t would serve
the porte as systematic arm against
Europe. and in any event would prolong
indefinitely the present conflict.
The powers had made conformity a
friendly attempt to learn from the porte
the conditions upon which 1t
POrteS would consent to peace with
Ill., Italy. The answer was not
S' encouraging. Turkey would
negotiate only upon the basis OF the rec
ognition of her high authority in the
Tripolitan and the Cyrenaic and the
withdrawal of the Italian forces. Italy
manifestly could make no such conces-
s;ons, for she was In effective possession
of the entire coast and cities and with a
duly constituted administration for their
government. To ignore that condition
was absurd
Since then Italy has further strength
ened that situation by the capture of
several islands in the Aegean sea. and
chief of them Rhodes. the occupation of
which has been followed by the capture
of the, Turkish garrison of 2.70e men.
Italy has manifestly adopted a plan of
operations which, in view OF Turkey $
confessed naval inefiiciency. must end in
further disaster If not entire ruin.
/ The recent speeches of two statesmen
have occupied, to the exclusion of almost
all else. the attention of diplomatic cir
-cles and the European press. The subject
of the diScourses of Count Berchtold.
minister of foreign affairs for Austria
Hungary. and NJ. Sazonow. minister of
foreign affairs for Russia. talks as a start
ing point the Italo-Turkish wharf.-the OAR
danelles and the Balkans-which clouds
the peace of Europe.
. Count Berchtold affirmed that Austria s
policy was generally conservative and es-
sentially so In the Balkans. The minister
desired the end of the talo-Turkish war
and also to maintain the friendship of
the Ottoman empire.
I Count Berchtoid's speech has created
a good impression in Italy. La Tribuna
expressed the hope that Austrian neutral
ity might be an active neutrality" and
favorable to peace based upon the statu
quo in the Balkans. Certain journals of
Vienna reproach Count Berchtold for his
excessive Partially for italy" but it is
quite evident that the minister bears in
mind the necessity of employing mildness
in the maintenance of the triplice of
which Italy, for a fact, is member.
The minister, after having congratu-
lated himself on the end of Austria S
tension with Rus
Austria Hungary STA and England.
referred with en-
dHo IidACe. phasis to the
friendly relations existing between Aus
tria- Hungary and France. There was.
indeed. no rivalry Of interests between
the two countries. The Zeit writes:
These relations date from the Moroc-
can negotiations. in which Count Aeh-
renthal sustained by his passiveness
French diplomacy
The Austrian minister undertook to ex-
plain some political acts. in which he at
firmed .'all powers had obeyed a law of
expansion that obliged them to conclude.
in addition to their general engagements,
certain agreements" The stupid idea
which had been advanced against these
accords was proof that Their authors
had not been alive to the realities of
modern life. There was, indeed. said the
minister, a ''reseau a mailles, net
work of links and agreements between
different groups, which Sensibiy compli-
Gated the International situation. This
situation was inevitable and may be said
to have characterized the proceedings of
the last fifteen years. Though one may
praise or decry IT, the fact remains that
the essential thing is to know what con-
sequences are to be deducted. These
points were naturally viewed by count
Berchtold from an Austrian standpoint.
The complications of international rela-
tons has produced, according to the min
lister, a salutary effect; it has contributed
to soften the contrasts and serve the
cause of peace. On the other hand, 1t has
multiplied the surface of friction, intro
ducing into foreign policies other ele-
ments which should be noted in time.
And the minister concludes that these
accords should not be made except they
are entirely reconclable with general en-
rest, the minister affirms, the nation must
maintain its military force up to the very
highest standard as a guarantee of diplo-
matte authority.
NJ. Sazonow. minister Of foreign affairs
of Russia, speaking in the duma on the
occasion of the discussion
Sazonow's of the budget resumed
the political situation in
0pccCH. such a manner as to ex-
cite the attention of all diplomatic circles
and the European press.
NJ SaZonow commenced by reference TO
the Franco-Russian alliance, whose rela-
tions were based upon the unbroken
friendship of Russia which was safe
guard for the peace of the world. The
minister recalled the pacific solution of
the Moroccan question, which was the
cause of much disquiet and which fur