New-York tribune., 1918-07-30
Hun and Pagan Quarrel

For some weeks past the looters of
Russia and Rumania have been quarrel
ling over the division of the spoils. Now
a dispatch comes from Copenhagen by
way of London saying that Turkey has
broken off relations with Germany.
1t may be only half true, But rela
tions between Germany and Turkey have
been greatly strained ever since Won
Kuhlmann put into the treaty of peace
vita Rumania provision vesting the
title to the ceded Dobrudja in the Cen
tral Powers, as whole, and shutting
Turkey off from any territorial compen-
sations in Europe.
German diplomacy played off Turkey
against Bulgaria. 1t had probably prom
ised the Dobrudja to Bulgaria, but it
aimed meanwhile at keeping both the
southeastern allies on the anxious seat
and assuring their loyalty by an appeal
to their cupidity. In the interim Ger
many turned all the Rumanian harbors,
railroads, mineral deposits and oil wells
over to German concessionaires.
The disgust of the two ignored minor
looters was unconcealed. There was a
Cabinet crisis in Bulgaria, and the control
of the government passed out Of the
hands of the extreme pro-German fac
ton An opposition ministry was in
stalled. Gar Ferdinand has now found
it advisable to go on an extended foreign
tour. The uncertain promise of eventual
possession of the Dobrudja has left Bull
garia resentful and suspicious of German
good faith
The annoyance of the Turks has been
n even more acute They know well that
&Rulgarias claim viii be preferred to
fheirs- They have been far from assured
? by Won Kuhlmann's recent speech in the
Reichstag, in which he said: 1.-The ques-
tion of the Dobrudja, or of the compensa-
ton due to Turkey, II thss question: Is set
tied in the Balgnvion sense, has in high
degree excited public opinion in both
countries, which are hooking with keen
attention for every expression of the
Central Powers"
Enver Pacha and his colleagues feel
that they viii come out of the little end
of the horn SO long as the Dobrudja
question is not settled IN Turkish sense.
And they know that the only way to
change German purposes is to threaten
dissolution of the Quadrnpse Alliance
That they have threatened to with
draw and seek separate peace with the
Allies is by no means improbable Yet
too much hope cannot be based on such
manoeuvre- Germany needs the Turk.
She bought him once She may be able
to buy him again She has Southern
Russia at her disposal and can easily
throw him bone like the Crimea. which
he covets-
But the Turkish thrent-whsther It is
a bluff or not-exposes the peril which
Germany faces In distributing the spoils
OF her Russian enterprise Can Eastern
Europe be apportioned without shaking
the Qnadruple Alliance to pieces. There
is no loyalty among fhMves- Over
slice of territory claimed by two each
would cut the others throat without
cnmpunctirm-
The German pagan END the Moslen
fnfdel are swurn brethren to-day. But
tomorrow each VIII put the other's body
IN sack and cast it into the wzters-
When criminals fall out the rest Of the
world win come more easily to its own.
Nothing could be more significant OF the
collapse Of the Central European ALI
anre. based ON greed and lust, than an
open break in the sardonie copartner-
ship Of tho All Highest In Berlin with
tho Head Of the Faithful on the
Bosporun.