The negotiations between the Turkish Government and the (British) Smyrna-Aidin
Railway Company have ended in a compromise. According to the Convention now ratified, the Turkish Government prolongs the concession for fifteen years, authorises certain extensions, and gives assurances that the status quo will not be altered to the detriment of the
Company ; but the Anatolian group have succeeded in securing the rejection of the Company's demands to be allowed to maintain steamers on Lakes Egerdir and Buldur, and for the preferential right of construction of any future railway from Adalia approaching their system. In view of these considera- tions, we cannotshare the optimistic view of the Constantinople correspondent of the Times, who claims the ratification of the Convention as a "great success" for Sir Nicholas O'Conor,— on the strength, apparently, of the fact that the demands of British applicants have not, as was to be expected, been altogether refused by Turkey. Nor can we share the corre- spondent's regret that—owing,. presumably, to the unsatis- factory nature of the guarantees—our Foreign Secretary has delayed to give his final assent to the Note setting forth the conditions on which the Powers agree to the proposed increase of the Turkish Customs.
