The Dardanelles.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 93, 10 August 1914, Page 8

The Dardanelles.

THE RULE OF THE OTTOMAN.

Till 1774, when Russia compelled Turkey to open the Black Sea,and the Straits leading.to it from the Mediterranean to merchant vessels, it had been the practice of the Porte, which lid not consider itself bound by the public law of Europe to forbid the passage of the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus to ships of other Powers. After 1774 ships of war were still excluded ; and in 1809 Great Britain recognised this practice as “the ancient rule of the Ottoman Empire. She was followed in 1840 by Austria, Russia’ and Prussia, who were parties with her to the Quadruple Treaty of London. The first subsidiary convention attached to the /Treaty of Paris, 1853, revised the r’ 1 . so as to allow the passage of light cruisers employed in the service of the foreign Embassies at Constantinople and of a few -.mail vessels of war to guard the inter, national works at the mouth of the Danube. A further modification was introduced by the Treaty of London of 1871, which retained the previous rules, but reserved power to the Sultan to open the Straits in time of peace o the war vessels of friendly Powers. : f he should deem it necessary in order to secure the observance of the Treaty of Paris. 'These last two treaties have boon signed by all the Grom Powers, and are universally accepter! as part of the public order of Europe. Towards the close of the Russo-Turk-ish War in 1878, when General Skoboloff threatened to march on Constantinople, the British Government sent a (loot to the Bosphorus to prevent the Russian advance. On that occasion (Admiral Hornby, who was in command ‘of the squadron,technically forced the passage of the Dardanelles. The vessels took the Straits cleared for action, the flagship leading. The Turks fired a shot or two, by way of a technical protest. General Skobaloff did not march on Constantinople.