The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 57, December 9, 1897

From the news as we know it, it seems as if Germany had committed a very shameful act; but when we hear both sides of the question, we may find that she has only done the right thing for the preservation of her national honor.

The Sultan of Turkey has been getting into trouble again. Both Russia and Austria have been making things unpleasant for him.

Since his successes in the war he has begun to think himself a very important sovereign, and both Russia and Austria decided that if he were not checked he might become a very dangerous neighbor, so they met in consultation, and laid their plans for checking his ambition.

They first incited Bulgaria to rebel.

Bulgaria is a small principality on the north of Turkey, which is under the sovereignty of Turkey. Bulgaria enjoys home rule, and is governed by a prince elected by the people; the prince must not, however, be a member of any of the reigning families of Europe. Bulgaria is, however, a tributary state, and has to contribute toward the support of Turkey.

Instigated by Austria and Russia, Bulgaria demanded several small favors from the Sultan, insolently adding that if they were not granted she would declare her independence and throw off the yoke of Turkey.

Now until the peace with Greece is absolutely signed and sealed, the Sultan of Turkey cannot afford to quarrel with anybody, so he was obliged to give in, and grant Bulgaria's demands; but her independence made him feel somewhat uneasy and so he sent a number of soldiers to the Bulgarian frontier, to make sure that the Bulgarians behaved.

This was exactly what Austria and Russia desired. With her troops scattered, and uneasy nations on her borders, Turkey is much less dangerous.

The Bulgarian matter had hardly been settled when Austria discovered a new means of checking Turkey.

The Turkish officials in Asia Minor ill-treated an Austrian subject. He was the agent of the Austrian Lloyd's Steamship Company at Mersina, and had been summarily expelled from the city by order of the officials.

The Austrian consul at once interfered, and was grossly insulted by the Mutessarif, who is a sort of mayor, and also by the Vali, or governor, of Adana, in which province Mersina is situated. Adana is one of the Turkish provinces on the Mediterranean Sea, and Mersina is one of its chief seaport towns.

The incident being exactly what Austria had been wishing for, a great deal was made of it. The Austrian ambassador at Constantinople sent word that his flag had been insulted, and demanded that Turkey should formally salute the Austrian flag, that both of the offending officials must be immediately dismissed, and the agent given money damages.

The ambassador informed the Sultan that, in case of refusal, he should leave Constantinople, and sever all diplomatic relations with Turkey, and that warships should proceed to Mersina and bombard it.

The Sultan did not like to be treated in this way, and took time to decide what he should do.

The ambassador sent a second letter, when he had waited as long as he thought right for an answer to his first, with the added demand that Turkey should also pay the claims of the Oriental Railroad Company, and that the matter should be decided inside of eight days.

The claim of this railroad company was for carrying troops during the war, and the bill for this service had not been paid.

Now the Oriental Railroad Company is not owned by Austria, but by Austrian citizens, and it was an unheard-of thing for a government to seek to collect the private debts of her citizens at the cannon's mouth. Europe has, however, been doing remarkable things to Turkey for many years past.

The Sultan dared not refuse Austria, any more than Bulgaria, until the peace with Greece was signed, and so was forced to agree to all of Austria's demands.

In six days he had made up his mind, and a polite message was sent by the Porte (the Turkish Government) to Austria, that the ill-treatment of the Austrian citizen was a matter of deep regret, and that the Porte would pay the required money damages, would discharge the offending officials, and send warships to salute the Austrian flag; and last, but not least, the Porte would pay the railroad company's bill, which amounted to the nice little sum of $1,250,000.

The letter concluded by stating that the Sultan desired the good will of the Emperor of Austria, and hoped that nothing might intervene to endanger it.

By this little action Austria and Russia succeeded in weakening Turkey still more through her treasury; but even then they were not satisfied.

Russia had found out that the Sultan intended to spend part of the indemnity Turkey was to obtain from Greece in strengthening his navy; in fact, with Germany's help he meant to have the finest navy in the world.

This did not suit Russia at all. It became known that Germany had arranged to supply Turkey with a perfectly equipped navy—guns, equipment, and all complete—for one-quarter of the money coming from Greece.

Turkey has been bankrupt for many years, and owes money to most of the nations of Europe, so when Russia learned of this dangerous activity on her part, she took advantage of the old debts to prevent it.

She sent word that if Turkey was in a position to buy a navy, she must be also in a position to pay her debts, and therefore Russia would like to have the old account of 1878 settled.

This is a war debt which Turkey owes Russia because of the last war between them.

This debt is an extremely heavy one, and the Porte, becoming frightened lest Russia should insist on its payment, hastened to inform the Czar that nothing definite had been arranged about the navy.

Russia replied that the moment Turkey shall attempt to build up her navy or increase her war supplies, she will insist on the payment of this debt.

After a few days of reflection, the Porte informed the Russian ambassador that Turkey had decided not to make any changes in her navy for the present.

Between them, Austria and Russia have succeeded in crushing the Sultan's ambition for the present.

These are, however, not all of Abdul Hamid's troubles.

Crete, which he had begun to regard as his rightful property, has once more become a thorn in his side.

Confident of his power, he has been assuming a haughty tone with the Greek ambassador sent to settle the treaty, and insisted that he accept the terms as they were without venturing on any changes. He has also kept his soldiers in Crete, and sent a Turk as governor of the island despite the protests of the Powers.

He has, in fact, been doing pretty much as he pleased, believing that Europe was afraid of him, and that he was master of the situation.

Now the Powers have combined to teach him the difference. They have joined together, and in round terms bidden him obey them or take the consequences.

You remember that home rule was promised to Crete, and that (after the peace negotiations were signed) the Sultan announced that he would see about the reforms later.