He simply stated his terms, and added that he would grant no armistice until they were accepted.

Instead of demanding $15,000,000 and certain points in Thessaly, as it was supposed he would do, he said that he must have $50,000,000 for his war expenses, and the whole of Thessaly.

The dismay in Europe over the reply of the Sultan would have been comic, if the poor Greeks had not been suffering so severely from the muddle the Powers had made of the whole business.

The Powers supposed that Turkey would he willing to listen to them, and stop the war just as soon as they asked her to.

Acting on this belief, they made Greece give up certain advantages which she had regained in Epirus, and made her withdraw her troops, promising that Turkey should not advance any farther, if Greece would obey their wishes.

Greece obeyed, only to find that the Powers had made promises which they could not perform.

Turkey has become intoxicated with her success, and may no longer allow the Powers to influence her.

The Turks have taken Dhomokos, the last stronghold of the Greeks, who fell back on this city after the retreat from Pharsala.  It is feared that the Moslems will advance to the very gates of Athens, unless something is done to prevent them.  What this something shall be, the Powers are at a loss to state.

Backed by the approval of Germany, the modern Turks are no longer the despised nation they have been for so long.  It has been the custom to speak of the Sultan as the “Unspeakable Turk” and “The Sick Man of Europe,” whom the Powers were keeping alive until they had quite decided how to divide his possessions.

Turkey’s success in Greece has changed all this.

Every one knew that the Turks could fight well, but it was the custom to treat them contemptuously, and say that after all they were “only Turks.”  The short war with Greece has put an end to this feeling for good and all.  The Turks have proved themselves a powerful nation.  They have won back their own self-respect, and have forced Europe to take a more respectful attitude toward them.

They have surprised the world with their bravery and their fine generalship; and there is beginning to be a good deal of fear lest this despised nation shall rise in its newly-found might, and dictate to Europe.

The Turks, despite their victory, are still the same shifty, cruel, unpleasant people; and the Powers must feel a good deal ashamed that the only result of their diplomacy has been to put fresh power into the hands of people who are a blot on the face of Europe, and who would much better have been driven back into Asia among peoples who are more in sympathy with their savagery and semi-barbarism.

But the Powers have now to deal gently with the Turk.

They have sent another message to the Sultan, demanding that hostilities cease while the terms of peace are being discussed.  No reply was made to the Sultan’s note, but the message stated that Europe would not allow Greece to be crushed.