The sun., 1913-11-30

~ tween Greece and Turkey was
II signed at Athens on the night
of November 10 yet it leaves
istill unsettled the issues most vital in
the eyes Of both nations and most preg-
nant with probabilities of "a recurrence
Of hostilities in the near future. The
two Governments and their plenipotcn-
itiaries. finding that they could come to
no agreement whatsoever about the
ownership of the .l:Iean islands. finally
decided to eliminate them from the scope
Of the discussion ON the pretcxt that
the great Powers had at the conference
Of last summer in London expressed
their determination to have Il say in the
matter and to determine it in their self
appointed role Of arbitrators.
There remainc consequently nothing
for the plenpotrntiaries at Athens To
debate with one another beyond the
problems offered by the Wakufs. or re-
ligious foundations. in the territories
which have passed from ottoman to
Greek rule and the subject Of the future
nationality Of the population of the an
nexed provinces. All this has been set
tied in n manner extremely favorable
to the Sublime Porte.
SIcete IIstu uO uutlNt Ill tIlt IIltt-
ter. For the great Powers had vir-
tually given their support to Turkey
none OF them being desirous for any
undue development OF the might and
greatness Of the Hellenic kingdom
which would disturb conditions in the
Mediterranean. France. in agreement
with Russia and Great Britain. opened
her pursestrings to the Sultans Gov
urnvv 90. q l,.
600. 900. obtained on the Paris money
market by means of a loan. But these
pursestrings were vigorously closed to
Greece. which is confronted by an empty
treasury and overwhelming obligations
arising from the recent war. She had
ordered fifty batteries from the Creusots
in France, some 300. 900 rifles from Aus
tria and 5O,OoO.O00 cartridges without
any immediate prospect of being able
to pay for them. while every day that
she kept the reserves with the colors
and her troops ON war footing. namely
some 100000 men under arms. added to
her financial difficulties.
Thanks to her loan, Turkey has none
Of these difficulties to contend with
She has splendidly reorganized army
Of some 100000 men bent on retrieving
their former defeats which was ready
to march against Greece. The latter
knew that she could count ON no as
sistance from her former Balkan allies;
that Bulgaria. indeed. would be certain
to accord every assistance within its
power to the Porte. and that il her war
with Turkey was renewed it would be-
q one sided struggle at the best: that
she stood to risk losing all that she had
Raina6 and that II nnrcbpn,a n vic
torious she would find herself in a still
more exhausted condition than at
present. That is why she consented
TO the Ottoman terms on the subject Of
the Wakufs and of the nationality of
the population of the annexed provinces.
But even handicapped as Greece is
she would have resumed the fight with
Turkey then and there had the issue
concerning the .4.e.an islands been
pressed She consented to this question
being delayed because she hopes by
means Of diplomacy in Paris. London,
Vienna. Rome. st. Petersburg and espc-
Cially Berlin, 10 win the good will and
support of the great Powers in the mat
ter and to secure their backing in her
determination to retain possession Of
the islands seized 10y her fleet during
the recent war.
The Sublime Porte, on the other hand.
has been equally disposed To postpone
the settlement of the differences about
the islands. She sees her advantage
In delay, for ii is enabling her to
strengthen her navy by means of pur-
chases of cruisers. destroyers and even
couple of battlcships in England. also
ordinary merchant steamships for use
as military transports, the utmost
secrecy being maintained by the Otto
man authorities about these purchases,
while the Turkish press has been
strictly prohibited from. even referring
thereto.
Every day that passes adds to the
strength and confidence Of the Govern
ment and lieges of the Sultan, who are
recovering in an altogether marvellous
fashion from the disasters by which
they We're overwhelmed during the first
Balkan war. The early defeats Of the
Turks, the loss of so much of their ter
ritory in Europe and their previous
experiences at the hands Of Italy in
connection with Tripoli have had IA
most salutary effect. 1t has led to
many much needed reforms. has de-
veloped the patriotism and also, | am
sorry TO add, the fanaticism of the
ptOpt W an thttIt uIhIbNil LOT Seu-
frations, and in one word Turkey, who
a year ago was regarded as having
virtually ceased to exist AS "A nation,
save on sufferance. has emerged from
the final stages of the conflict with re-
prestige, more really powerful
and with prospects of greater prosperity
than before.
She has been able to compel the Bal
kan allies, one after the other. to re-
wise the terms of the original treaty
Of peace forced upon her by them
without any regard to the behests Of
the conference of the great Powers in
London. Defying the direct orders Of
the conference she has resumed pos
session of Adrianople and Of much OF
the territory which has been torn from
her, and dealing with each of the allies
In turn has been able To force from
them some OF the fruits of their vic
tories.
Perhaps the most astonishing thing
about the whole affair is the manner in
which the great Powers have sub
mitted to the Porte's fragrant disre-
gard and almost contemptuous indiffer-
ence to their directions and to the de-
cisiOns Of their London conference. and
have been virtually favorlng Turkey
In b.r lnt dan vpyith thu nna tirna