The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1915-03-27
CONSTANTINE 0PLE
11,t;mate Fate of This Stronghold
Has Bothered Heads of Eu-
ropean Statesmen for Years

Constantinople in case the war
ships of the Allies succeed in forcing
the Dardanelles, which at present
writing seems quite probable.
Greece. of course, says the Salt Lake
Tribune. longs for possession of the
ancient capital of the east, but there
does not seem to be even a remote
possibility that the city will be turned
over to such a small country. more
especially since that country is not
an active participant in the great
struggle now going on. Greek terri
tory no longer borders upon what is
left of Turkey in Europe, and if
Greece were to be given Constanti-
nople it would be necessary to take a
slice of Bulgaria with it.
The ultimate fate of Constantinople
has bothered the heads of European
statesmen for generations. Russia
has long coveted it. but her aspira-
tions have invariably been blocked by
Great Britain, France and the other
powers. The opinion has been firmly
held by the British statesmen that
"such a state of things as the Rus
slams at Constantinople would bring
the British Empire to ruin" 1t was
this feeling that animated Lord
Beaconsfeld when he played the
double game with Russia and Turkey
at the close of the war of 1878 and
secured the island of Cyprus for his
country. Russia gained very little
by the war as it turned out and the
"sick man of Europe" continued to
drag out a miserable existence.
Public men of those davs, men who
ruled the destinies of what are called
the great powers of Europe, never
had any well-defined idea as to the
fate of Constantinople. They knew
that sooner or later the nlspeakable
Turk" would be driven from Europe,
and they were content to let the
question be settled when it finally
arose. The opinion of Lord Derby,
delivered at time when the Russian
army had entered Adrianople, with
the spires and minarets of the capi-
tai almost in sight. is well worth
quoting at this time, when the allied
fleet is leveling the forts on either
side of the Dardanelles and the Mos
lens are beginning to leave Constan-
tinople for Asia Minor.
who is to have Constantinople ?"
said Lord Derby. No great power
would be willing to see it in the hands
of any other great power. no small
power could hold it at all, and as for
joint occupation, all such expedients
are both dangerous and doubtful"
This view prevailed to such an extent
that no attempt was made to dispose
or the Turkish capital by agreement
between the powers at that time.
Turkey lost considerable territory as
result of the war of 1878, some
eleven million Christian people being
delivered from the Moslem yoke.
But the seeds of future wars were
planted as the recent struggles in
the Balkans most eloquently testify.
BY the treaty of Berlin Austria
was given control of the two import
ant provinces of Bosnia and Herze-
govina, both largely inhabited by
Slavs, which she formally annexed
a few years ago. 1t is interesting to
note that Great Britain has done the
same thing with the island of Cyprus
since the present war began. 1t was
in Bosnia that the late crown prince
of Austria and his wife were assassi-
mated by Servians, who were subjects
of Austria, for which act the empire
declared war on Servia and practic-
ally the whole of Europe became in
volved in the most desperate struggle
of which there is any record.
The question of Lord Derby, "Who
is to have Constantinople ?" once
more bothers the heads of the states
men of Europe and more than pass
ing interest is taken by students of
history all over the world. Will
some small power like Greece be al
lowed to take possession? Will Rus
sia be given free rein? Or will the
dangerous and doubtful expedient
of joint occupation be attempted
1t is said that Russia is to be allowed
free passage of the Dardanelles in