Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1901. THE EASTERN CLOUD.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 4 November 1901, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1901. THE EASTERN CLOUD.

Our cablegrams to-day tell of the French naval demonstration against Turkey; and, as was generally believed, the backing down of the Sultan at the first real display of force. The French claims appear to have been enlarged since first made, and in addition to payment in cash, the right of France to the traditional protection of Christians, and establishment of French schools in the East is set forth. The Sultan has promised to settle if the French squadrons are withdrawn, but it is possible that France having gone so far will demand a settlement before her warships leave. In this matter Turkey can expect but little sympathy from Europe, although possibly Germany for diplomatic reasons may appear to lean towards the Sultan, but will not by herself take any action. At the same time it would not be very difficult for the dispute to become more general, and the result of such an extension of its scope could not fail to be of the most serious nature. The conflicting interests and ambitions which have been kept under control with so much difficulty may be restrained no longer; the entire Eastern question would then be thrown open for solution in the only way in which it is likely to be solved. Great Britain bias never exacted her claim on Turkey for the damage done to her subjects during the Armenian massacres, the United States has a big

debt overdue for damaged mission premises, And Russia has whole millions owing to her by way of indemnity for the last war. If France is violently to wrench her share, or a portion of her share, of the Sick Man’s inheritance from him, it is not improbable that others will be tempted to follow her example, in which case the future of Turkey would be very problematical.