The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 48, October 7, 1897 A Weekly Magazine for Boys and Girls

Excerpt

The peace negotiations are settled; that is to say, the plans suggested by Lord Salisbury, and agreed to by the Powers, have also been accepted by the Sultan.

On the 18th of September, after a conference of three hours, the ambassadors and Tewfik Pasha signed their names to the treaty. As soon as this was done, Tewfik carried the document to the palace and obtained the Sultan's signature also.

According to the terms of the treaty, the troops are to be withdrawn from Thessaly within one month after it goes into effect, and the Powers are to control the income of Greece until the war indemnity of fifteen million dollars shall be paid.

Nothing now remains but for Greece to agree and for King George to sign his name beside that of the Sultan.

Though every one must feel glad that peace has been made between these two warring nations, yet the terms are so hard for Greece that if she signs the treaty she will practically be signing away her independence as a nation.

There is a very shameful story behind the Greco-Turkish war. In the histories that will be written about it, it will be recorded that Greece was sacrificed by Europe for the sake of Turkish gold.

We have told you before of the money difficulties in Turkey, and that the Sultan has been called the "Sick Man of Europe" because of the unfortunate condition of his affairs, which were in such a deplorable state that it seemed as though the kingdom of Turkey must soon be swallowed 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 at different times, and all that was of value in the country pledged as security for the repayment of the loans. Bonds were issued on these securities, but owing to the impoverished condition of the country they were of very little value, and at one time the Turkish bonds were the joke of the stock market. Still, the bonds existed, and their holders hoped at some time to get their money back.

Few governments are wealthy enough to support themselves without borrowing money. In Europe most loans are arranged by the wealthy bankers, who demand security in return. We explained this matter to you in speaking of the quicksilver mines and the Rothschilds, on page 1023.

Transactions of a similar character to that of the quicksilver mines have been entered into by almost all of the European countries, and the consequence is that there is hardly a foreign nation that is not under obligations to its moneyed men, or financiers, as they are called.

The power of the financiers has become so great that they are now able to dictate the policy of Europe. Behind the will of kings and emperors is the will of these financiers. If the moneyed men refuse to lend their gold to a country, they may prevent its going to war, the erection of fine buildings, or the doing of many things that are necessary to keep up its proper position as a nation.

When Greece, enraged that her Christian brothers should be under the thraldom of the heathen Turk, went to the rescue of Crete, all the brave men of Europe applauded the gallant little country for her pluck....