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Show WHY GREAT BRITAIN INDORSED TURKEY ST. PETERSBURG, Dec 8. According to a story. current in high circles here, Russia's efforts some time ago to negotiate nego-tiate the purchase of seven Argentine ind Chilean, warships have had a curious lequel. The two South American countries coun-tries declined to sell the vessels direct to Russia fearing the possibility of being lubsequently held liable to pay Japan ieavy damages as Great Britain was in he Alabama case, i At that time the question of selling to I third party as an intermediary was liscussed and the possibility of Turkey flaying the role was suggested. But Ar-fentina Ar-fentina and Chile steadfastly declined to mtertaln any proposition without a tuarantee against future liability. According to the story, Russia then ibandoned the project, whereupon Great Britain stepped in. offering to advance the money to Turkey to buy the ships In 'eturn for certain concessions which pould permit Great Britain to erect sec-ind. sec-ind. Gibraltar on the coast of Yemen, pposite Perim island, which would give jj.-eat Britain control of the lower entrance en-trance to the Red Sea. Negotiations between Great Britain ind Turkey along these lines are said to ' fe now progressing. It is added that Rut-sla Is so much alarmed over the report re-port that an emlspary has txen dispatched dis-patched to Constantinople to Investigate ind block the game. |