New-York tribune., 1879-06-02
THE GREEK QUESTION.
FRANCE ESPOUSES THE GREEK CAUSE.
TIE CLAIMS oP GREECE DIsRPGARDED by LORI

IFRoa THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSE.J
LONDON, May 20.-Ail Mt once a question
opens-a horizon hung with clouds broadens before
the ministerial gaze. Greece is making herself
most unplcasantly conspicuous. Strictly speaking,
the Greek question is not new one. 1t was raised
during the Russo-Turkish war. 1t was raised
again during the Berlin Congress. II has been
heard of from time to time during the subsequent
negotiations. But in its present shape it is new.
Heretofore the Greek claims have seemed 10 Lord
Beaconsfeld to deserve only contempt. When a
Greek army was massed on the Turkish frontier, he
thought it a simple matter to send it home again
with promise that Greek interests should not be
preiudiced. The moment was q critical one. The
Turk was already getting the worst OF it in his
struggle with the Russian. Once before, if not
twice, the Government at Athens had pledged 1T
self to Russia TO let loose its forces. The Western
Powers, England especially, knew that such en-
Ragements existed. They took upon themselves the
responsibility of cancelling them The Greek Gov
ernment accepted the assurances offered by Eng
land and the crisis was ayered at Berlin. Lord
Beaccnsfcld and Lord Salisbury foundit convenient
to evade the performance of their promises. 1t was
then in their power to have obtained from the
Turk concessions of territory that would have sat
lsied the inst demands of Greece. They Contentod
themselves with what was in form recommends
y
vate hint to the Turkish Penipotentiary that size
could not be expected TO act upon this recommen-
dation with any undue haste. That was nine
months ago. and more. The Greeks have never
ceased to press for the fufment of what they ln-
sisted on regarding as the undertaking Of Berlin.
The Turks have put them off with all sorts OF
frivolous preexts. England has backed up Turkey.
as usual. Lord Beaconsiield scOrnfully told the
Greeks that they must learn to be patient.
As if they had not been patient for fifty years
Greece was first rescued, then betrayed. The set
tlement of 1880 gave her an impossible territory.
Mr.. Sala pcturesquely described her as having been
hung up on n shelf oil which she always on the
point of tumblmg. King Leopold refused the Greek
crown solely because he had convinced himself that
no substantial prosperity was possible on
such basis She was confined within
limits which prohibited a normal national
development. She has since existed she now asks
permission to live and it is this moderate request
which constitutes what are called her claims She
wants enough of Thessaly and Epirus to give her
safe frontier and reasonable chance of solid
political and industrial activity This, some
fragment Of this possibility is all that was en-
bodied-and embodied as an opinion, not as a COM
mand-in the instrument drawn up at Berlin.
The only Power which espoused the Greek cause
heartily was France both at Berlin and since. In
her behalf France abandoned the attitude OF re-
serve she has maintained on most ECrOpcan ques-
tOns Ut was owing to France that tho thirteenth
protocol and the twcnty-fourth article Of the BsT-
lin Treaty Werc adopted. II is owing to France
that the stpulatoDs then entered into have not
been allowed 10 become quite dead letter Quite
lately, the French Prime Minister launched u
circular proposing that the Powers should act
through their Ambassadors at COnstantiuop,e. and
put pressure upon the Porte to do ustce to Greece
and respect the treaty. Othof Powers adhered;
England drew of on the preteXt-a very character
istic one in Lord Salisburys nouth-that if the
rem0nstrance was to b. joint, it would SAVIOR OF
coercion.
This exhausted the patience Of France, prudent as
she Is, and cautious as N. Waddington is 1t was
determined that tho next effort should be of
nature to impress the English Government with a
conviction that the French Government was in
earnest. The circular above referred to bore date
April 2l. Lord Sa'isbury's reply with his
cavil about coercion did not it is under
stood, take the form of distinct diplomatic
refusal. 1t left the matter open. NJ. Waddington
tbcreupOn resolved to appeal to the most potent ally
known to modern po,tIcs-publc opinion. He de-
terminod to publish his circular. To insure atten
tion to it, it was arrangcd-I don't say that ~
WaddingtOn arranged, but ii IS difficult to doubt
that he knew what going on-that a public
meeting in behalf Of Greece should be held in Lon
don on the day of the appearance of this circular
1t was further arranged again l am speaking
iecturally, but on the support of facts which can
have but one meanng-that the reports Of this meet
ing should be accompanied by broadside from the
French Press.
The programme has been carried out TO the letter
and with an almost startling effect. Nobody was
prepared TO find NJ. WaddIngtons circular per-
emptory in terms. Recting the negotiations that
followed the Treaty, he fastens upon the Porte an
admission of the principle OF territorial satisfaction
70 Greece and says: We expect Of her now fresh
step and what require of her is the execution of
the resolutions recorded iii the 18Th protocol The
word resolutions appears to be ltaiiclsed in the
original. No more was anybody prepared for the
intensity of enthusiasm manifested at the meet
ing Oh Saturday. That meeting was called by men
whom Lord Beaconsfed would probably stigmatize
as impulsve young men, and scoh at rs scDtImeu-
tai Sir Charles Dixie presided. Lord ROsebey
was one of the chief speakers. But the meeting
was thronged TO overilowing, and on the platform
appeared men whom even Lord BeacOnsield cannot
accuse of youthfulness or Oyerzeal-the Duke OF
Westminster. Mr. w. E. Baxter, sir Robert Peel, Sir
William Harcourt, Lord Arthur Russell and twenty
nore-men of such political and social weight as 30
Prime Minister can afford to despise. Sir Charles
Dilke's opening speech was cold. strong, clear
statement of the case 1t contained not word OF
Invectlve, but it amounted to an indictment
of the Government and every word was
underlined by the audience. Lord Rosebery
made most remarkable speech. When | said
this young man, sitting on the platform with his
Knowing bored look, bethought myself of his re-
cent speech at the Press Fund dinner, and ex-
pected nothing from him beyond languid support
of the resolution he had to move. i found myself
so utterly mistaken that in the end repented OF
the criticism had made on his Press harangue.
Once on his feet all expression of weariness van
iahnd lie s1.nLn 1rell from the heniuning: and at