The latest report from Constantinople is that the Grand Vizier,
who presumably knows his master's mind, is inclined to recede from the position taken up by the Sultan as regards the financial control of Macedonia. The German Emperor has kept his promise about the affair and has strongly pressed the Sultan to yield,- and without the German Emperor Abd-ul- Hamid stands alone. The majority of his Ministers are still for resistance, arguing that the Powers, for the sake of their commercial interests, will never seize either Salonika or Smyrna; but the astute tyrant remembers previous history, and fears that if they do not quarrel they may occupy Macedonia. In that event, the question of financial control would settle itself automatically, order would be at once restored, and the Turkish Treasury would be greatly relieved; but the province would never again be replaced under Turkish rule. It is useless to say that a combined force would contain every element of disagreement, for Lord Lansdowne is willing, pro- voked beyond his patience, to use the Fleet, and Austria would be delighted to occupy Salonika. The Kaiser cannot stand in the way of his only great ally, and Russia has too many things to do and to pay for just now to interfere actively in the Balkans. Abd-ul-Hamid is quite right in yielding, and will be most wise if he yields without receiving an ultimatum.
Previous page
