Year: 1876

England's UItimatun 10 tho Sultan.
They who have had least faith in the sue
cess Of the negotiations on foot at Constanti-
nople have doubted that these negotiations
would secure peace mainly because of
the opinion that the Ottoman statesmen
never could be made to believe that they
would not at the last moment receive the
support of England. It has seemed to
European diplomats generally that Turkey,
if absolutely certain she would have
to stand alone in case of war, would
not assume nm attitude that would
render war inevitable. They have not
in this overlooked the extremes to which
fanaticism may carry warlike people but
in fact, those who are most familiar with
Turkey have the best opinion of the cool
astuteness of the Ottoman, and believe least
in the likelihood of his losing his head in a
hot temper. But the Turk is tenacious of
convictions, and o conviction that may be
regarded as the substratum of all his politi-
cal views is that England is SO naturally and
necessarily the natural enemy of Russia
that if the Russians are engaged in a war
anywhere England must inevitably support
the other side. 1t has been especially
feared in England that this conviction
would carry the Turk into hopeless war on
this occasion, and the London Times ex-
for peace in case Turkey were mot per-
mitted to believe that she will have Eng
lands support in case of conflict"


If it be possible to loosen the hold Of this
conviction upon the Turkish mind some
progress must have been made toward it by
the communication which it is reported has
been made to the Sultan by the British
Plenipotentiary. This is a pcremptory de-
mand on the part Of the British government
that the Sultan shall accept the schedule of
reforms constructed by the preliminary con-
ference, with the intimation that in case Of
refusal the Plenipotentiary will immedi-
ately leave Constantinople and the British
feet withdraw from Turkish waters. It
may be remembered that the plan of reforms
here referred to was drawn up by the con-
ference, ut which no representative Of
Turkey was present, though the Turkish
diplomatists seem to have availed themselves
of the occasion to hastily put the finishing
touches to the famous Turkish constitu-
ton, of which word now and then has
been heard for the past nine years. Indeed,
while the representatives of the six nations
were making constitution for the Christian
provinces the Turk hastily launched one for
all his subjects, brinful of reform. There
never was such shower of reform in that
country before. The plan Of the conference
was handed to Savfet Pacha on Saturday, at
the first session Of the plenary conference,
which, of course, can only proceed with its
labors formally when it knows whether the
Porte will accept its scheme. If rejected
completely there is, of course, an end to ne
gotiation.


This plan deals somewhat amply with the
organization Of an administrative system;
and, while it does not touch positively the
point of foreign occupation, all its pro-
visions imply that occupation in some form
or another as an indispensable guarantee
The plan lays down certain number of
measures that must be carried into effect by
an international commission. They are to
organize law courts and make appointments
to operate them; and the persons appointed
shall be foreigners if the commission deem
it necessary. Only thirty per cent of
the taxes is to 60 to the Porte.
Mayors of towns shall be chosen by
popular election; the governors of
provinces who may also be foreigners,
shall have complete control of the police.
1t is assumed in the plan that these reforms
must be guaranteed, but the purpose was to
leave the precise character of the guarantee
to be determined when it was known
whether the Sultan would indorse the plan
OF reforms Opinion in the conference ap-
parently favored the formation Of gen.
darmerie OF foreigners of three or four thou
sand men. to be organized as Turkish
force. Doubtless the Sultan hesitated over
this plan in view of its uncertainty as to
this most important point-foreign occupa-
ton. But England has acted with great en-
ergy and rs q true peacemaker in compel
ling him to see how desperate is his venture
if he rejects this scheme.