The journalists of Berlin appear to be convinced that some
direct threat has been addressed by Lord Salisbury to the Sultan, in consequence either of his action in Egypt, or of his disposition to throw in his lot with Russia, and close the Dardanelles at her bidding. Nothing of this conflict is publicly known in London ; but the Sultan is obviously preparing for or against something or other. He is straining every nerve to bring his Army up to war strength, is deluging unhappy Mace- donia with troops, and is fortifying the Dardanelles. Nobody who will wait is paid, and all the money that can be spared from the Palace and the huge garrison of Constantinople is expended on preparations for war. The Sultan forgets that Syria, his weakest point, is outside his defences, and that the slightest encouragement from the British Government would provoke an Arab insurrection striking straight at his authority as Khalif. Mr. Gladstone's Government understood that quite well, and compelled him to cede Thessaly to Greece without firing a shot. It is fortunate that we have in Constantinople an Ambassador of whom Abdul Haraid stands in some awe.
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