, 1881-03-13
GREECE AND TURKEY-PEACE Or WAR!


Kingdom of Greece must decide whether it
shall have peace or war with Turkey. Be
fore the present month closes diplomacy will
have finished its work and laid its ultimatum
before Turkey and Greece, and as the Powers
have practically agreed to modify the pro-
visions Of the Berlin Treaty in favor Of Tur-
key, the question of peace or war hangs
upon the action of Greece. OF late a new
element has entered into the calculations,
the organization Of the Albanian League
t.nd this may affect in some way the decision
Of the Powers, since the League throws enl-
barrassments in the way both Of Turkey and
Greece. While the League is in favor Of i'll
dependence, and at last accounts was pre-
pairing to resist Turkish authority in North
ern Albania, it is equally determined that
Greece shall have no territory in Southern
Albania. In the event, therefore, that war
should break out and Greece should endeayor
to make forcibIe seizure of the territory
she wants in that quarter, she will meet with
a determined resistance from the Albanians.
If she should keep hands off, Turkey will find
the Albanians concentrating in rebellion
against the Porte.
The situation might be briefly summed UP
rs follows: What Turkey is willing to give,
Greece don't much care for, and what Greece
demands-namely: Janina and Metsovo, and
the adjoining territory-Tur is determined
not to give up. As between the Two there
must be compromise, or there must be 4
fight. Turkey has defined the maximum she
will give and Greece the minimum she will
accept, and the six Powers already in their
'.pourparlers have fntimated that they are
averse to war, and that if they compromise
the settlement will be in favor of the Turk
ish proposals, though there is nothing as yet
that indicates even then that their decision
will be entirely satisfactory to Turkey: It
certainly will not be satisfactory at all to
Greece. The scheme to compensate Greece
for the loss Of territory in Epirus and Thes-
sally by giving her the Island OF Crete is cred
tied in England as entirely irresponsible.
The Saturday Reuic,u Of Feb. 2G very point
edly says: Il,
The most Jealous friends of the Crock rnce
can scarcely contend that Crete is In urgept
need Of liberation. Since the establishment Of
the present misunderstanding system. the island
has been tranquil; and any discomfort which
mug exist prevails rather among the Nussul-
man minority than among TIE Greeks: who are
ponderancc by an arrogant dencanor It would
seem that they enjoy the control Of the local
foc Of 1eg o
Of o half Of lis salary. Although Crete may per-
part # Of the Greek State, it is doubtful whether
tho Christian population ut present desires an-
nexation: Another reason against Introducing
that the substitution Of territory fur another
is ut variance with the only principle which cAn
justify tho transfer from Turkey TO Greece. It
cun be no satisfaction to tho population of any
part Of Epirus Thessa1y, If it remains against
its will under Turkish dominion, to know that
somewhere. else Greek Christians have become
Hellenic subjects.
II, as now appears, the Powers favor Tur-
key, though not to the extent she desires, it
is probable she will be induced to accept |
their decision, as she has been very solemn1y
warned by the representatives of every one
Of them. But with Greece the case is diff !
ferent. She stands in the relation to them of |
q party to whom they had made a definit |
promise in the Treaty Of Berlin. Since that |
time, however, the Powers which were her
friends. and France, which was her cham
pion, have all cooled in their sentimental |
ardor, and are not ready to make good their |
promises. They will offer her less, and much |
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When they reach their compromise, there |
Tore, they have still the task before them
If inducing Greece to accept it. Upon her |
1ecision hangs. the issue: Of peace or war.
The London Spectator of6Feb. 81 is among
hose who look for war. 1t says:
We think that among well~intormed men the !
that war between Greece and Turkey t
8 unarodabla deepens rapidly. The Am bassn-
lors are now all present in Constantinople. but
8 much. talk Of a proposal to cedo Thessaiy and
exchange Eprus for Crete: but the Greeks, who
rant brcathtng-room on the mainland, will not
ccept that o1er. It is stated that the Ambas-
adors are beginning to uct collectively, but so
ssured fs the Old Turkish party that war is at
,and, that Osrnan Pasha has vent1red to insist |
hat certain revenue shall be paid directly into
he military chest, instead Of passing through |
he Fiuancc Ministry. As that change would
'ar both the Palace and the Porte frum stopping ]
my OF the money, we may be certain that, II 1t
$ made, war IS Immediately at hand The |
;reeks, 1T is certain. believe this and have |
allied out their last reserves,
Both Turkey and Greece are prepared, for
var, and rest upon their arms pending the
ecision Of the Powers. It is impossible
0 say. when any day new considerations
lay be effected, which it will be, but two
hinEs are certain:. II Turkey refuses to
bide by the decision it will be the signal for
er dissolution. If Greece refuses, 1t will be
he signal for her overwhelming defeat, as
he Is vastly inferior in power to Turkey, |
nd must not only antagonize superior
over, but must also ALLEVIATE herself from
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