The Sultan dared not refuse Austria, any more than Bulgaria, until the
peace with Greece was signed, and so was forced to agree to all of
Austria's demands.
In six days he had made up his mind, and a polite message was sent by
the Porte (the Turkish Government) to Austria, that the ill-treatment of
the Austrian citizen was a matter of deep regret, and that the Porte
would pay the required money damages, would discharge the offending
officials, and send warships to salute the Austrian flag; and last, but
not least, the Porte would pay the railroad company's bill, which
amounted to the nice little sum of $1,250,000.
The letter concluded by stating that the Sultan desired the good will of
the Emperor of Austria, and hoped that nothing might intervene to
endanger it.
By this little action Austria and Russia succeeded in weakening Turkey
still more through her treasury; but even then they were not satisfied.
Russia had found out that the Sultan intended to spend part of the
indemnity Turkey was to obtain from Greece in strengthening his navy; in
fact, with Germany's help he meant to have the finest navy in the world.
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