NEW CESSION OF TURKISH TERRITORY by D. H. Lamson

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Tuesday, April 21, 1885

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 62, No. 16

NEW CESSION OF TURKISH TERRITORY.

By D. H. Lamson

Says the Detroit Evening News of March 30: “Overtures to Turkey for an alliance with Russia are still pending. Diplomatic advices from Athens and Constantinople concur in corroborating the report that secret negotiations have been for some time in progress with Austria, Greece, and Russia, for a new territorial arrangement with Turkey. Under this, Russia is to obtain the annexation of East Roumelia to Bulgaria, with the extension of the principality east to Roumelia and the Ægean Sea; Greece to get a part of Macedonia, with a frontier line to the Gulf of Salonica; Austria to obtain a new frontier from the plains of Kassova to the Ægean Sea, the center of the Austrian territory to be a part of Salonica. Russia also asks the right to occupy forts on the Black Sea at the entrance to the Bosporus.”

Eastern Roumelia is at present a province of the Ottoman empire, lying immediately south of the Balkan Mountains. It is inhabited by Bulgarians and Greeks; and though under the military and political authority of the Sultan, had administrative autonomy given to it by the Berlin Congress of 1878. The Governor-General must be a Christian, and the constitution is settled by a European commission. It has an area of 13,500 square miles, and a population of 817,513.

Roumelia proper includes all the north of Turkey except Eastern Roumelia, extending from the Black Sea to the Pindus Mountains on the west, and southward to the Ægean Sea. All this territory it is proposed shall be absorbed by Russia and Austria, the latter getting the western part of Roumelia and southward to the Gulf of Salonica.

Who can help but call to mind again the wonderful Will of Peter the Great, that said: “Interest the House of Austria in the expulsion of the Turks from Europe, and quiet their dissensions at the moment of the conquest of Constantinople (having excited war among the old States of Europe), by giving to Austria a portion of the conquest, which afterwards will or can be reclaimed.”

Greece is to get a generous slice of Macedonia, probably all east of the Pindus Mountains, with a coast line on the Gulf of Salonica to meet Austria. Should this treaty be brought about, and Russia man some forts on the Bosporus at Scutari, Turkey will be in about the same condition as was the Eastern Roman Empire from the days of John Palaeologus till Mohammed took possession; i. e., from July 27, 1449, till May 29, 1453.

If all of Roumelia were given up to Russia and Austria, it would include Philippopolis and Adrianople, and a further coast line on the Black Sea. Surely the lines are tightening around the “star and crescent,” and the word of God is being fulfilled. The peace of Europe may for a little while be preserved by such astute diplomacy on the part of Russia, and at such a cost the wrath of England may be appeased. The Indies for a time may be secure from the embrace of the Russian bear, while the four angels still hold the four winds, till the ascending angel shall reach the zenith of his power and the earth is lightened with the glory of the last message to men. D. H. LAMSON.