AFFAIRS IN TURKEY
It was clear to everyone who followed the course of events in the
Near East that the dissolution of the Turkish Empire was at hand. The
race towards ruin, that had gone on slowly before the introduction
of the telegraph and telephone, now began to suit its pace to the
times. Corruption of every kind was the order of the day in Turkey.
Nothing could be obtained without bribery. Every kind of enterprise
was stopped by the extortions of the tax-gatherer. Any man who was
known to possess ready money was plundered by corrupt officials. The
system of land-tenure prevented the peasants from putting any money
into improvements. The great mineral wealth in Turkey and the subject
lands could not be touched, for the law said that only the surface of
the land belonged to the proprietor; all mining rights remained the
property of the State. Mining engineers who came to search for hidden
wealth were murdered by the peasants, who feared that the Government
would confiscate their land. Men who went down to Turkey to do business
always spoke of the necessity of adopting quite other methods than
elsewhere. Money, even in the case of respectable firms, was not kept
in the bank, where it would fetch interest, but distributed among a
number of more or less distant relatives. Thus the stranger had no
means of discovering whether his customer could pay or could not pay.
The latter always had a clear case for the Courts, and could prove
absolute penury whether the necessity arose in connection with taxation
or with a tiresome customer. At the same time all business there was
done on the credit system. The European agent, therefore, never dealt
direct, but depended upon the local agent, who had a profound and
up-to-date knowledge of his customer’s financial standing. The fact
that no man could be forced to pay made tradesmen very honest, and
the Turk, even before the revolution, had an excellent reputation for
uprightness throughout South-Eastern Europe. “The Turk is a gentleman;
he always pays,” they said in Austria and in Hungary. Just as large
transactions were carried out in the latter countries without the
interposition of any legal man, and sums running into thousands passed
from hand to hand in small notes to avoid the heavy stamp duty, so
the Turk transacted business without documents, always keeping to his
word. The Austrian and German agent who overran Turkey and dumped his
least marketable goods upon the people, felt he was dealing with a
kindred soul, but, to avoid all risks, he fixed his prices to allow
for long waiting, and also to cover any unavoidable bad debts. He had
a serious competitor in business in the Balkans, and was gradually
being routed from his long-established haunts by the Italian “drummer.”
The Bohemian textile manufacturers had been accustomed to regard
Turkey and the Balkans as a kind of dumping-ground for bales of goods
that had not “taken” colour properly and for wares that showed some
deficiency. The arrival of cases of excellent wares from Milan at about
two-thirds of the price of the Austrian article naturally damaged their
market very considerably. It is certain that much of the friction
between Austria-Hungary and Italy was due to the growing keenness of
competition in trade upon the Balkans, and just at this period it was
getting very active.
Turkey hung thus, like an over-ripe pear, the wasps swarming around
her, her Sultan Abdul Hamid committing crimes that cried to heaven,
when the news reached Vienna that the Third Army Corps at Salonica
was marching upon Constantinople. The revolution and the deposition
of Abdul Hamid were accomplished with a celerity that gave rise to
the suspicion that Austria knew more of the whole affair than she
chose to admit. The Austrian Government made desperate efforts to
keep the news from getting out until everything was accomplished, and
it is more than probable that the Young Turks were financed by the
Austrian Government. It is equally certain, however, that the Young
Turks chose a moment that suited themselves, and had not consulted
Austria as to details such as dates. Austria had set a vast machine
in motion, and could only stand aghast at the completeness of the
success of the rebels. It was not what she intended. With the opening
of a Turkish Parliament many questions that might have drifted
indefinitely became pressing. The chief of these was the future of
Bosnia and Herzegowina. Austria-Hungary had occupied these lands. For
many years she had carried on a rule that was not pleasing to the
population, formed almost exclusively of Serbo-Croats, who wished
to join their Servian neighbours across the frontier. With what the
Austro-Hungarian administrators regarded as singular blindness, they
felt that they would prefer the very progressive rule of King Peter to
the retrogressive government of subject-nations by the Central Power.
The few Mohammedan Albanians in Bosnia were content with the existing
state of affairs, which differed little from that under Turkish rule.
As they were merely 3 per cent. of the population, however, they were
of minor importance, although men of prominent position in most cases.
The establishment of the Turkish Constitution changed the whole aspect
of affairs as regards Bosnia and Herzegowina. The countries, although
occupied by Austria-Hungary, were still under the suzerainty of Turkey.
They would have the right to send deputies to represent them at the new
Turkish National Assembly. If this were permitted, Austria felt that it
would be only a question of time before she was called upon to evacuate
the annexed lands. Turkey might become regenerate. She would, then
exercise the leading _rôle_ in the Balkans that Austria had reserved
for herself.
Austria-Hungary decided that it was the moment for action. Only
one course was open to her. She must proclaim the annexation of
Bosnia-Herzegowina. Kaiser Wilhelm was consulted upon the advisability
of this step. He said that the step must be taken without warning. It
must come upon Europe as a surprise. Other countries had proclaimed
annexations--why not Austria-Hungary?
Archduke Francis Ferdinand bitterly disapproved of Austria’s attention
being turned to the East instead of to Italy. His influence was at
a very low ebb at this particular time. Emperor Francis Joseph had
regained his health. It was even thought that the robust old man might
outlive the heir to the throne.