Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-06

any pretext whatever. This treaty raised
protestations throughout Europe, and
Russia renowned the execution of the
treaty. From these events date the in
standardization OF the question OF the
Dardanelles.
-
Subsequently war broke out between
the Sultan Mahmoud and his vassaL Mo-
manned Ali Pasha Of
Closing of the Egypt Russia, Eng
r,, land. Prussia and Aus
oa1uaAoiAes' tia agreed to protect
the sultan. and they signed at London,
July Is. 1910. treaty with Turkey. on
gagins themselves to defend Mahmoud
against Mohammed Ali and taking under
their Joint protection the Bosphorus.
the Dardanelles and Constantinopie Tho
sultan. on hts part. engaged himself to
maintain. In case OF Intervention OF the
contracting powers, the entry OF the two
straits. which were closed to all war
ships except those Of Turkey.
France. which supported Mohammed
Ali. protested. and the sultan having ar
ranged the affair with his vassal Franco
accepted to sign at London with tho
other powera q treaty. dated July 1s'
tS4l. which said:
Convention of the straits: The sultan
afarms his will to interdict the entry OF
any foreign vessel OF war to the two
Straits. The signatory powers agree to
respect the will Of the sultan on this
After the defeat of Russia In the war
of the Crimea (1S53) the treaty of
Paris. March 80. 1855 which re-estab-
lished peace. reaffirmed the conven-
ton Of July Is. 1871. BY this treaty
- nF he ri nf he Of ia
was reinforced. Russia was obliged
to sign a special convention fixing tho
number and the force Of the ships of
war which the powers on the coast OF
In that sea II was the naturalization
Of the Black sea Imposed upon Russia:
II was the formal prohibition for the
empire of the cxars to have q feet
In sea which II considered a Russian
lake"
This clause in the treaty mortified
to the highest degree the national Mus
eovite spirit. and the government Of
casions to rid itself Of the humiliation.
II found an occasion in the Franco
Prussian war. 1t provoked reunion
Of conference at London to revise the
there was signed a treaty abolishing the
naturalization Of the Black and per-
hitting Russia to maintain there a feet
and to construct there maritime arsenas.
Nevertheless. the paragraphs Of the
treaty concerning the straits were not
modified; the straits remain~i closed to
Russian ships of war as to fleets of other
powers. The treaty of Berlir of 1873 made
no change In that condition.
80
The closure Of the straits has con-
stantly weighed heavily on Russian pride
and interests. and lar
Serious Blow ticulally In the Russo
Japanese war. when
w "ussAa. Russia was In dire need
Of her feet Enclosed in the Black sea.
Russia, however. accepted the decree
which closed the straits, England was
notified by Japan Of Russias situation
In the Black sea. but Eng gland. In rec
Spouse, gave the most absolute assur.
ance that the closure VI Tue STRAITS
would be respected by the Russians
Since the Russo-Japanese war mar.
velous change in the diplomatic situa-
ton has happened. England has become
the ally of Russia. and Is a fellow-mem-
mer Of the triple entente- England Aas
no immediate interest in keeping down
the naval strength Of Russia. and
France, her ally. has no longer any de-
sire to obstruct In any way the wishes
Of Russia.
In order to conclude the third period
of the Turkish Empire We should re-
vina In 1876. the Russo-Turkish war
of 1877. when Turkey, vanquished. ap-
pealed to Europe. and Europe. in the
Congress Of Berlin. modified the condi-
favor of Turkey. The independence of
Bulgaria was recognized and Austria
was accorded the control Of Bosnia
Herzegovina.
In 1886 the powers interviewed to pre-
vent the insurrection In Crete from be-
n
uprising: the imposition Of reforms upon
Turkey. coupled with the troubles In. Ar
menia, resulted in the Greco-Turkish
war of 1897. The intervention of tho
powers eliminated in the quasi eman-
cipation of Crete. while Turkey was
obliged to moderate her terms to de-
feated Greece.
In 1908 there was commotion In the
Balkans and at the same time signs
of revolution IN Constantinople. One
day, August 6, there flowed into tho
palace from the street the people who
cried Give US liberty" 1t was the
birth Of the Young Turk" party. A
constitution. parliament and finally
the deposition of the sultan, Abdul
Hamid, followed. In October Austria
Hungary annexed Bosnia Herzegovina.
Prince Ferdinand proclaimed himself
King Of Bulgaria.
April Ii, 1903, there was reaction and
revolt at Constantinople. Abdul-Hamid
was restored. April q
Recent revolution Of the pal
Er.,+. ace deposed Hamid. and
MANNED Rechid sue
ceeded. In March. 1911, there was
trouble between Turkey and Italy:
In April an italian fleet appeared at
the entrance Of the Dardane,les and
bombarded Koum- and To-Prak
Kail: the treaty of Ouchy declared
peace October 16. 1912, and recognized
Itaiy's occupation Of Tripoli.
March Is. 1918. King George OF
Greece was assassinated at Saloniki
and Prince Constantine succeeded to
the throne. The war of the allies Of
the Balkans had achieved uninterrupt-
ed success against Turkey and culmi-
mated In the surrender of Adrianopla
March 20, and peace was signed at Lon
ion between the Balkan states and
Turkey May 80. 1913.
The Bulgarians, dissatisfied with the
provisions of the treaty and the dis
triburion of conquered territory. at
tackled their Servian and Greek allies.
but were promptly defeated A Rou
manian army under King Charles
Joined the allies against Bulgaria
While this operation was In process
Turkey. Notwithstanding her SIGMA