The Sun.
London, England, 1869-01-28 00:00:00

TURKEY AND GREECE.

The prophets of the day are prophets of evil. The

French official journals have kept assuring the world
that Greece will return a favourable answer; but they were
equally sanguine that the Conference would go on
smoothly, and yet Greece would have nothing to do with
it. The Liberte has been informed that the answer
of Greece will be a pure and simple negative.
The state of public opinion in the little king-
dom renders any other solution a practical impossi-
bility. To accept the declaration would cost King George
his crown, and he and his Ministry are fully aware of
this. They are carrying on the work of arming with the
utmost rapidity. Soon a force of 60,000 men, including
the National Guard, will be ready to oppose the army of
Omer Pacha, and in the meantime negotiations are going
on with the United States for the purchase of
arms and ammunition. Cassintali is now at
Paris on a secret mission to the Cabinet of Washington.
The Liberte, thinks it right that conferences should
precede war instead of following it ; but this is all
the consolation it can find in the present aspect of affairs.
The Times Berlin correspondent telegraphs that Greece is
expected to return an answer favourable in the main, but
clogged with so many reservations as to occasion fresh
negotiations. As to the decisive assertion of the
Liberte, it must not be forgotten that this journal alone
contained a report of the strange proceedings at the first
meeting of the Conference, and has received special and
correct information since that event. And if the Greek
Government did not apprehend the worst, why should it
force bankers to lend money and plunge into preparations
of the most ruinous cost ?

Letters from Thessaly to the Vienna journals say that
Turkey is making prodigious efforts to muster an efficient
army on the Greek frontier; but the success hitherto
achieved is not proportionate to the magnitude of the
Porte's exertions. Troops poured into the disaffected
Turkish provinces like water in a sieve. Omar Pacha is
unable to advance a step without leaving strong garrisons
at every point of importance. If the commander-in-chief
musters 100,000 men, he will reach the utmost limit of possi-
bility. Greece intrigues unceasingly to bring about an insur-
rection. The Patrie, a French semi-official paper, publishes
similar intelligence. It believes also that war or deposi-
tion is the only choice which offers itself to King George.
The war party has endeavoured to excite the people, and
has succeeded. Flags, bearing the word " War," and
others actually inscribed " War or Abdication," are
carried about the streets of Athens. The brother
of the Princess of Wales has made all ready, and has
resolved to lead the army in the campaign which has
already been planned. Other information, less warlike,
is to the effect that though preparations are incontestably
being made, yet Greece may listen to reason when she
finds that no help is to be had from without.
The Presse and Debatte, both Vienna journals, believe
that Greece will return a conciliatory answer, a measure
which will be followed by the resignation of the Bulgaria
Cabinet