The Turkey Trouble

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jan 14, 1913

The Turkey Trouble

THE diplomatic tangle in London, despatches of January 1 say, is nearer solution than previous days indicated. The new demands of Turkey are that Adrianople shall be held, that its status is to be settled by Turkey and Bulgaria direct, and that the cession of the rest of European Turkey, including Janina and Scutari, is to be made to the allies; the Albanian and Cretan questions are to be solved by the powers; and the Ægean Islands are to remain Turkish. Turkey had, just previous to this, expressed herself as desiring that the great powers of Europe should mediate between the two parties. Not until the representatives of the allies had registered their unalterable objections, and Turkey learned that unwillingness to present her demands would mean a resumption of hostilities, were these things presented by Rechad Pasha. It was an exciting day among the delegates. They declared that they would not accept the proposed mediation with the “powers,” and insisted that the Turkish delegation present a practical proposal. The Turkish concessions were then made. Some of these propositions may be accepted by the “powers,” but they do not propose that there shall be any agreement concerning Adrianople between Turkey and Bulgaria alone. They propose to stand together. The real problem is Adrianople. The Turkish sentiment is strong for holding that. It is the earliest site conquered by Murad I, in 1361, nearly a hundred years before Constantinople was taken. It is believed, too, that she will be willing to cede her islands for the sake of still holding Adrianople, the “jewel of the Orient.” It is hoped that peace will be concluded by the orthodox Christmas, which occurs January 7, or at least by the orthodox New Year, January 14.