The peace negotiations are settled; that is to say, the plans suggestedby Lord Salisbury, and agreed to by the Powers, have also been acceptedby the Sultan.
On the 18th of September, after a conference of three hours, theambassadors and Tewfik Pasha signed their names to the treaty. As soonas this was done, Tewfik carried the document to the palace and obtainedthe Sultan's signature also.
According to the terms of the treaty, the troops are to be withdrawnfrom Thessaly within one month after it goes into effect, and the Powersare to control the income of Greece until the war indemnity of fifteenmillion dollars shall be paid.
Nothing now remains but for Greece to agree and for King George to signhis name beside that of the Sultan.
Though every one must feel glad that peace has been made between thesetwo warring nations, yet the terms are so hard for Greece that if shesigns the treaty she will practically be signing away her independenceas a nation.
There is a very shameful story behind the Greco-Turkish war. In thehistories that will be written about it, it will be recorded that Greecewas sacrificed by Europe for the sake of Turkish gold.
We have told you before of the money difficulties in Turkey, and thatthe Sultan has been called the "Sick Man of Europe" because of theunfortunate condition of his affairs, which were in such a deplorablestate that it seemed as though the kingdom of Turkey must soon beswallowed up by the more powerful nations of Europe.
The Turkish nation has been on the verge of bankruptcy for many years.To help the struggling Government along loans of money have been made atdifferent times, and all that was of value in the country pledged assecurity for the repayment of the loans. Bonds were issued on thesesecurities, but owing to the impoverished condition of the country theywere of very little value, and at one time the Turkish bonds were thejoke of the stock market. Still, the bonds existed, and their holdershoped at some time to get their money back.
Few governments are wealthy enough to support themselves withoutborrowing money. In Europe most loans are arranged by the wealthybankers, who demand security in return. We explained this matter to youin speaking of the quicksilver mines and the Rothschilds, on page 1023.
Transactions of a similar character to that of the quicksilver mineshave been entered into by almost all of the European countries, and theconsequence is that there is hardly a foreign nation that is not underobligations to its moneyed men, or financiers, as they are called.
The power of the financiers has become so great that they are now ableto dictate the policy of Europe. Behind the will of kings and emperorsis the will of these financiers. If the moneyed men refuse to lend theirgold to a country, they may prevent its going to war, the erection offine buildings, or the doing of many things that are necessary to keepup its proper position as a nation.
When Greece, enraged that her Christian brothers should be under thethraldom of the heathen Turk, went to the rescue of Crete, all the bravemen of Europe applauded the gallant little country for her pluck. Butthe brave men of Europe did not