The various Sultans who have been ruling Turkey ever since the affairs of
that country first began to scandalize Europe, have always maintained this
same attitude, in the hope that the Powers which insisted on interfering
in the affairs of Turkey might at last get into a serious quarrel among
themselves, and so be obliged to leave Turkey alone.

The Turkish troubles have been going on for years and years. The Armenian
massacres, and the misrule in Crete, are only the last two of a long
series of crimes which have made Turkey the horror and the despair of
Europe.

If the various Powers could only have agreed how to divide up the Turkish
Empire between them, the Sultan would have been expelled from Europe long
ago. But they never have agreed, and so the Sultan of Turkey has kept his
throne.

The Powers sent a note to Turkey at the same time that the one was
despatched to Greece, telling him that they wished Crete to have Home Rule
under the control of a Turkish prince.

The Sultan's reply was most amiable; he agreed to the wishes of the Powers
so willingly, that it is said that he is glad to have an opportunity of
ridding himself of Crete, which has long been an annoyance and expense to
his Empire.

At the same time he, too, is massing troops on the frontier, ready to fly
at the Greeks the moment war is declared.

* * * * *