494 The Review of Reviews. 



* 



We thought there would be no war of pohtical calculations redounding 

 because we knew that Sir Edward Grey little to its credit, the Cabinet did 

 w^as in full possession of all the facts nothing. How was it possible then for 

 and possibilities, even despite the in- Turkey, while maintaining the evil 

 competence of the Ambassador at Con- foundation which was recognised by 

 stantinople. We knew that Sir Edward Europe, to convince the Powers that 

 Grey was no ideal Foreign Minister, but Turkey was ready and able to carry 

 we could not conceive that it would be out more difficult reforms in Macedonia 

 possible for any Minister, however un- and Old Servia ? The Committee of 

 fitted for his post, deliberately to bring Union and Progress was responsible 

 upon this country the shame of respon- for the Italian-Turkish War, and pro- 

 sibility for the war, and upon his own voked the Balkan War by the influence 

 shoulders the heavy weight of thousands which it had never ceased to exercise 

 upon thousands of slaughtered men, on the new Cabinet, notwithstanding 

 women and children. the fact that the Committee was sup- 

 Only second to the posed to have lost much of its prestige. 

 Turkish responsibility of Sir The actual Government, however, could 

 Responsibility. Edward Grey must be not escape from the frightful respon- 

 placed that of the sibility of having been too feeble during 

 Turks themselves. There can be no four years to destroy this dangerous 

 disguising the fact that the war in the influence, and they have also added to 

 Balkans would probably never have the discredit of the Ottoman Empire, 

 occurred if the Turkish Cabinet had The very fact that in the discussion at 

 taken all the necessary measures. There Ouchy over the Treaty of Peace with 

 was one measure above all necessary Italy it was necessary to make not one, 

 the moment the Cabinet arrived in but two Treaties — one with the Govern- 

 power, and that was to rescue the coun- ment, which all the world is cognisant 

 try from the ever-present peril of the of, and which regularises the loss of 

 Committee of Union and Progress. This Tripoli by Turkey, and another by 

 could have been done in a legal way by which was bought for hard cash the 

 bringing not more than twenty of its consent of the Committee of Union 

 members before the High Court as and Progress — to allow the Treaty of 

 members of a dangerous secret asso- Peace to be ratified by Parliament, 

 elation. The reports of this High Such facts as these help us to understand 

 Court could have been published in how it is that the Turkish army made 

 order to show to the Turks and to the so little adequate opposition to the 

 world at large what manner of crimes onslaught of the Balkan League. Had 

 these people had been guilty of. This there been any real progress towards 

 would have been the best means of honest government at Constantinople 

 demonstrating that Turkey had the within the last four years, had the 

 real and serious intention of reforming. Turkish Army alone of all Turkish 

 Before constructing it was necessary to institutions shown ability or even 

 clear the ground. Thanks to a criminal patriotism higher than the native 

 nonchalance, and perhaps even because courage of the individual soldier, we 



