The San Francisco call., 1896-08-09
At Least That Is the Consensus
of Opinion Among German
Officials.
ENGLAND SCORED BY THE PRESS
Denounced for Her Refusal to Join in
Joint Naval Blockade of
the Ports.

BERLIN, GERMANY, Aug. S.-Political
interest during the week has centered in
the insurrection in Crete and the means
to restore tranquility in that disturbed
island, where the Christians are making a
desperate attempt to throw off the yoke OF
Turkish rule, in which they are being
aided by the Greeks, who desire to see
Crete part of the Grecian dominion. All
sorts of reports regarding massacres and
destruction of villages by the Turks and
excesses on the part of the Christian in
habitants are almost 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 something
should be done by the powers in concert
to put an end to the present state OF
affairs.
The German press, especially the Bis
MARKHAM ard conservative organs which
never attempt to conceal their hostility to
England and all things English, are par
ticularly sore over what was paramount to
the refusal of Lord Salisbury, the British
Prime Minister. to join blockade of Crete
and his alleged championing of Greece and
the Cretans. These papers have been at a
loss to find epithets strong enough to de-
nounce Great Britain for her refusal to
join in joint naval blocade of Crete to
prevent the insurgents obtaining 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 Greece, that is,
the warships should be employed to pre-
vent the entrance of Turkish troops to re-
enforce those already on the island, while
at the same time they prevented the send
ing of Grecian supplies to the insurgents.
1t is con.ended with good reason that
Lord Salisbury we'll knew the powers
would not agree to this. and consequently
the negotiations for joint action are a. a
standstill, and will probably remain so for
some time.
To impartial observers of the situation
it is well known that Great Britain will,
after her experience in the Armenian mat
ter, no longer act as a protector of Turkey,
and that she will let Russia, which blocked
her plans in regard to Armenia, take all
the responsibility for Turkish misrule. In
official circles here the idea is repudiated
that there is anything in the situation that
endangers the peace of Europe, and it is
said that though the prospects are in no
wise clear, matters are in some way tend
ing toward concert of the powers. a con-
cert which, it may be pointed out, how
ever, may be as futile as the much-talked-
OF concert anent Armenia, where the Dip
lomats found all their plans frustrated by
the diplomacy of Russia. In the mean.
time the anarchy which prevails in Crete
demands that some action be taken that
will restore peace to the island. But
what that action shall be is difficult to de-
eide.
A semi-official statement from ST. Peters
burg at length announces with some
defniteness the itinerary of the Gear and
the Czarina on their trip to various Euro
pean cities, 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 ascension to the throne. Their Majes-
ties will start after the army maneuyers
which end on August %. and they will
snccessiyely visit Vienna. Berlin, Copen-
hagen, Balmoral, Paris and Darmstadt.
At Balmoral they will be the guests of
Queen Victoria, and at Darmstadt, the
Czarina's birthplace, they will visit her
Majesty's brother, Grand Duke Ernest
Louis, and other members of her family.
Prince Lobanoff, the Russian Foreign
Minister, will accompany the party to all
the cities visited, with the exception of
Copenhagen and Darmstadt, where the
visit of their Majesties will be of purely
family nature. Much to the delight of
the French Government and Parisians
generally the Czar and Czarina will prob.
ably remain in Paris 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
will be arrived at by the Italian Govern
ment anent the Abyssinian question.
General Baldiserra, the commander of the
Italian forces in Eyrcthia has arrived in
Rome and has had several conferences
with the Minister of War.
This is taken to indicate that it is the
intention to again assume offensive opera
tions against the Abyssinians, who in the
recent campaign against them 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 German diplo-
mats will be directed toward preventing
Italy's re-embarking upon proftless
campaign.
Fritz Friedman, who was formerly the
lawyer of Baron Won Kotze, the court
master of ceremonies, who was impli-
Gated IN the great scandal that convulsed
Berlin society for long time, some time
ago issued pamphlet on the scandal.
Friedman, who was recently acquitted on
charges of embezzlement, but ordered to
leave the country, was, through his legal
connection with Baron Kotze, in posi-
ton to throw some light on the mysteri-
Gus letters which formed the basis of the
scandal and which charged all manner of
offenses 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 pro-
hibited.
During his cruise in the northern
waters, Emperor William designed new
allegorical picture on the lines of the
yellow PERIL" which excited SO much
comment last year, the meaning of which
is still mystery. The subject of the
new picture is the defense OF art and in
dustry by the army. Small figures per-