The record-union., 1896-08-09
All Absorbing Topic Of Interest in German
Political Circles.
The Press Very Antagonistic to the
Policy Of England
German Opinion Strongly Favored a
Blockade, But Great Britain Con-
tended That if 1t Were Established
1t Must be Directed Against
Turkey, as Well as Against Crete.

BERLIN, Aug. S.-Political interest
during the week has centered in the in
surrection in Crete and the means to
restore tranquility in that disturbed
island, where the Christians are MAX
ing a desperate attempt to throw off
the yoke of Turkish rule, in which they
are being aided by Greeks, who desire
to see Crete part of the Grecian Do
minion. All sorts of reports regarding
nassacres and destruction of villages
by the Turks and excesses on the part
of the Christian inhabitants are al
most daily circulated. But one thing
is certain, that the situation of the
island is deplorable and it is the con-
sensus of official opinion that some
thing should be done by the powers in
concert to put an end to the present
state of affairs
The German press, especially the
Bismarckian and Conservative organs.
make no attempt to conceal their an
tagonism to England, and what was
paramount to the refusal of Lord Sal
isbury to join blockade of Crete and
his alleged championing of Greece and
the Cretans. These papers have been
at loss to find epithets strong enough
tc denounce Great Britain for her re-
fusal to join in joint naval blockade
OF Crete, to prevent the insurgents OBJ
tanning arms and ammunition and
other supplies.
German opinion strongly favored a
blockade, but Great Britain contended
that If it were established it must be
directed against Turkey as we'll as
against Crete; that is the warships
should be employed to prevent the en-
trance of Turkish troops to re-enforce
| those already on the island, while at
the same time they prevented the
sending of Grecian supplies to the in
sugents
1t is contended, with good reason.
that Lord Salisbury we'll knew the
powers would not agree to this and
consequently the negotiations for joint
action are at a standstill, and will
probably remain so for some time. To
impartial observers of the situation it
| is pretty we'll known that Great Brit
ain will, after her experience in the
Armenian matter, no longer act as
protector of Turkey, and that she will
let Russia, which blocked her plans in
regard to Armenia, take all the re-
sponsibility for Turkish misrule
In official circles here the idea is re-
pudiated that there is anything In the
situation that endangers the peace of
Europe, and indeed, although the pros
poets are in no wise clear, matters are
in some way tending toward :. ert
of the powers, a concert which, it may
be pointed out, however, maybe as fu-
tile as the much talked of concert
anent Armenia, where the diplomats
found all their plans frustrated by the
diplomats of Russia.
In the meantime the anarchy which
prevails in Crete demands that some
action be taken that will restore peace
10 the island. But what that action
shall be difficult to decide.
A semi official statement from ST.
Petersburg at length announces with
some definiteness the itinerary of the
Gar and Czarina on their trip to vari-
GUS European cities, a trip that has
caused no little conjecture as to its
results, as it will be the first time the
Gar has left Russia since his acces-
sion to the throne. Their maiesties
which end August 23d, and they will
successfully visit Vienna, Berlin, Co
penhagen, Balmoral, Paris and Darn
stadt. At Balmoral they will be the
guests of Queen Victoria and at Darn
stadt, the CZarina's birthplace, they
will visit her majesty's brother, Grand
Duke Ernest Louis and others of her
family. Prince Lobanoff, the Russian
Foreign Minister, will accompany the
party to all cities visited, with the
exception of Copenhagen and Darn
stadt, where the visit of their maiesties
viii be of purely social nature Much
to the delight of the French Govern
ment and Parisians generally the Car
and Czarina will probably remain in
Faris longer than in any other city
but the details of their visit there have
not yet been fixed.
There is some anxiety in Government
circles regarding the final decision that
viii be arrived at by the Italian Gov
ernment anent the Abyssinian question.
General BaldisSeri, the commander of
the Italian forces at Eyrethia, has ar
rived in Rome and has had several con-
ferences with the Minister of War. This
is taken to indicate that it is the inten-
ton to again resume offensive opera
tions against the Abyssinians, who in
the recent campaign inflicted crushing
defeats upon the Italian troops, and
practically forced them to abandon the
country and retire to the confines of
the Italian colony 1t Is reported that
King Menelik of Abyssinia has received
stores Of arms and ammunition, and
that he meditates an attack upon the
Italians in October. The efforts OF Ger
man diplomacy will be directed toward
preventing Italy's re-embarking upon a
proftless campaign.
Fritz Friedman. who was formerly
the lawyer of Baron Kotze, the Court
Master of Ceremonies, who was impIi-
Gated in the great scandal that con-
vulsed Berlin society for long time.
some time ago issued pamphlet on the
scandal Friedman, who was recently
acquitted on charges of embezzlement
and ordered to leave the country, was.
through his legal connection with
Baron KotZe in a position to throw
some light on the mysterious letters
which formed the basis of the scandal.
and which charged all manner Of Of
fenses against members Of the highest
circles, not excepting the royal circle
itself The pamphlet is now declared to
contain matter that constitutes lese
majestic, and its circulation has been
prohibited.