Agreed for Russia to Have Constantinople
FOR more than half a century, modern students of prophecy have been watching with deep interest the developments and the changes in Turkish affairs. And in more remote times, there were those who were studying the prophetic page, who believed that the Turk would be the center of important scenes in the unrolling of the very last part of the great scroll of prophecy. With these thoughts in mind, the announcement made by Premier Trepoff in the Russian capital on December 2 is most striking and significant. A part of the premier's utterances are the following: "For more than a thousand years, Russia has been reaching southward toward a free outlet on the open sea. This dream now is ready for realization. . . . From the beginning of the war, wishing to spare human lives and suffering, we and our allies did our utmost to restrain Turkey from participation in hostilities. Turkey received formal assurances guaranteeing her, in exchange for neutrality, the integrity of her territory and independence, and also conferring on her certain privileges and advantages. These efforts were vain. Turkey surreptitiously attacked us. "We then concluded an agreement with our allies, which establishes the right of Russia to the straits and Constantinople. Russians should know for what they are shedding blood; and in accord with our allies, announcement of this agreement is made to-day from this tribune." "Absolute agreement on this point is firmly established among the allies. . . . Russia will grant freedom of navigation for the Roumanian flag, which now, not for the first time, floats in battle side by side with the flag of Russia." Of course, the war is not yet over. The private agreement between Russia and her allies cannot be carried out unless they win in the struggle in blood that is progressing. But whether they win or not, these pronouncements from Premier Trepoff show the tendency of the thought and the determination of the great statesmen of the time. England has resolutely refused, for many, many years, to yield to these plans and ambitions of Russia with reference to Constantinople. But these utterances from Petrograd show that England is now willing that Russia shall have her way, and secure a southern outlet through the Dardanelles, as has been her ambition for a thousand years. Should the allies succeed, it is already agreed that Turkish power in Europe is at an end. Thus much has been done toward the drying up of that power which holds the Euphrates Valley as well as Constantinople; and the completion of that work is to open the way for "the kings of the east" to march unobstructedly to the great and final battle field of Armageddon. No one who is a student of and a believer in the clear unfoldings of prophecy, can mark these developments without having his soul stirred. Tremendous issues are upon us, and we need to be wide awake to the meaning of current developments.