The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-05-15 00:00:00

THE EASTERN QUESTION.

BLOCKADE OF GREEK PORTS.

ATIMNS, May 8.
The situation has in no way improved. Reinforce-
nients are being pushed forward to the frontier with
almost feverish haste, and even the youths in the
Military Academy here have been pressed into the
service, although it must be stated in compliance with
their own urgent and persistent entreaties.
The personnel of the Turkish Legation have re-
turned here, it having transpired that the members of
the Greek Legation at Constantinople, with the excep-
tion of the Minister himself, had not left the Turkish
capital. _

ATHENS, Night.
At noon to-day the various secretaries to the
Embassies communicated a joint Note to the Govern-
ment to the effect that a blockade of the Greek ports
had been decided upon, and would take effect imme-
diately. The blockade will extend on the east coast
from Cape Melee to Cape Colonna, and on the west
coast, commencing at the northern frontier, will ex-
tend southwards to the Gulf of Corinth. No vessel
bearing the Greek flag will be allowed to enter or leave
the ports lying within these boundaries. Any vessel
attempting to effect an entrance will be sent back to
the port from which it set out.
ATHENS, May 9.
I learn that M. Deliyannis continues to protest that
the intentions of the Government are pacific, but they
can never submit to the intervention of the Powers in
matters relating to sovereignty and national rights.
The publication of the decree announcing that the
cadets of the Military Academy will be immediately
placed under arms has been postponed, neither has
any official announcement yet been made of the de-
parture of the Greek Envoy from Constantinople.
Meantime war preparations are not slackened. The
last regiment of infantry forming the garrison here
left for the front this morning.

- VIENNA, May 9.
The blockade of the Greek ports by the inter-
national fleet will, as I informed you on Thursday
last, be leniently carried out for th e present. That is
to say, it will be restricted to vessels sailing under the
Greek flag. I understand, however, that in case
Greece shall resort to any act of war the blockade
will become more effective, and all foreign vessels
carrying military supplies will be prevented from
entering the Hellenic ports. The Greek merchant
navy includes over 3200 craft of various tonnage.
They are manned by about 28,000 seamen.
Private information reaches me to-day from Con-
stantinople that, notwithstanding the reports of the
Greek commander-in-chief on the frontier, the
Turkish troops have offered no provocation, and will
carefully abstain from aggression of any kind. Even
if there shall be frontier skirmishing, regular hostili-
ties will only follow in case the attitude of the Greek
Army be such as to leave the Ottoman commanders
no alternative.

I hold on the highest authority that all rumours
representing Russia to be more favourably disposed
towards Greece than the other Powers are utterly
void of foundation. The communication informing
the Greek Government of the blockade was signed by
the Russian Charge d'Affaires without hesitation, and
he made no reservations whatever. Russia will take
part in the blockade in proportion to tier naval re-
sources, which are limited, but I am positively assured
from the unimpeachable source whence my informa-
tion is derived that between Russia and the four other
co-operating Powers there is not the remotest trace of
any difference of opinion. It is true that at an earlier
phase of the crisis the Russian Government showed
some inclination to humour the Greeks; but latterly
they have been acting in complete harmony with
England and Germany, by which Powers the late
diplomatic campaign has been led. It is confidently
expected in well-informed circles here that all the are
Powers being now bent on breaking the resistance of
Greece, and there being no prospect of drawing the
Turks into hostilities, Greece will at last yield, and
that either M. Deliyannis or his eventual successor
will effect what is required of them.
The position of France is regarded in Vienna as
embarrasing, for it leaves the French Government no
alternative but to side openl3 with Greece or with the
five co-operating Powers. Neutrality at the present
stage of affairs would, it is urged, expose France to
more complete isolation than before, and would not
be of any use to the Greeks. Such being the case,
there can be no doubt that the French Government
will make every effort to bring about a solution that
will render further measures of coercion unnecessary.
The course which they have presumably advised is
the immediate convocation of the Greek Chamber. It
has not been dissolved, and consequently arrange-
ments can be made by the President himself. The
Government would render account of their conduct and
refer it to the judgment of the House. This would cover
the King's responsibility, though it is probable that
M. Deliyannis would be called upon to resign; at al
events, is is not considered like.ly that in presence of
the existing situation he would be supported by the
Chamber in further resistance to the Powers. The
blockading fleet comprises twenty-five ships and fifteen
torpedo boats, of which thirteen ships and three
torpedo boats belong to England. The Greek fleet is
in the Bay of Salamis, outside the radius of the
blockade. Its chief strength consists in twelve gun-
boats and twenty-six torpedo boats, its larger craft
being of antiquated construction.
The report that M. Deliyannis has tendered his
resignation already reaches Vienna this evening.
Even if that shall be confirmed, it is probable that
the Chamber will be convoked. The liquidation of
the present situation in Greece can only be effected by
a strong Government commanding the confidence of
the National Assembly. In competent circles in
Vienna it has never been believed that the Greek
question would lead to war, and if this evening's re-
port from Athens shall be confirmed a prompt
settlement of the whole difficulty may be expected.