The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1897-03-01
q CHALLENGE
TO ENGLAND

a." 4iiidi settlement was, 10 say the itaSl'
premature There exists at the present
moment serious irritation between Russia
and Great Britain. which has provoked
the former rover to adopt an attitude
that can hardly be described in a milder
term than threatening.
I do not pretend to know the exact cause
OF the trouble. It was discussed at
hastily summoned meeting OF the
British cabinet this afternoon with
what result It. OF course is impossible to
sdy.
= singular scnI-omciaI communique from
ST. Petersburg is published today. IN which
It IS set forth "in the event OF Greece,
with blind apprehension TO her own adj
vantage. Offering further opposition TO the
weil-meant advice of Russia and Of the
powers in alliance with her. or creating
difficulties. or in the event of her allowing
herself to be encouraged in her present
attitude by sclf-seelSing friends. perhaps
on the false supposition OF lack Of unanim-
fly among the great powers because one
or the other powers did not support it at
the outset. the proposals of Russia. who
IS in perfect agreement with Germany
and Frsnce Russia in such an emergency
IS determined upon her course OF action.
Conscious of her unity with France and
Of her absolute agreement with Germany
and also with Austria. even II isolated
powers should not associate themselves
IN the steps she IS resolved to take, Russia
win be n a position at any rate not 70
allow the peace Of Europe to be endan-
gered by events in Crete"
This is the tone which Russia has not
adopted toward any power within living
memory. England. o. course. IS the coun-
try meant. and the words employed sug-
gest some exceedingly grave suspicious.
Tuhlo Opinion Eos Tntsrvered.
II may ~. however. that this languare
was used tn the interval between the re-
ception of Lord Salisbury's note saving On
effect that England would 90 nothing I'm
regard 20 Greece until the fate Of Crete
was decided and before England had noti-
fed her acceptance of Russia's proposal
for solving the difficulty That proposal.
although agreed 10 IN principle by the SIX
powers. win not be enforced in the form IN
terpreted by Lord Salisbury in the house OF
lords on Thursday. Neither England nor
italy nor France will fire n gun 20 drive
the Greeks from Crete IN order that the
island be delivered 20 Turkish troops for
police" purposo
Public opinion i'm on three countries would
put an absolute veto upon the proposition
Every dispatch received from Greece and
Crete makes 81 perfectly clear Chat such
an arrangement would never be submit
ted 70.
In fact. the reply of Greece 10 Lord Sails
bury's dlscouraeing speech Thursday night
has been a summons TO two more divisions
Of reserves to mobilize. Nothing but 41so-
lutte autonomy for Crete VIII ba accepted
by public opinion In this country and Lord
Salisbury IS fully aware OF this fact by
this time. His unfortunate allusion q tle
use Of Turkish troops as polics I'm crete
his added much To IA. popular inoisnJ-
ton. Pubic anger is slow Ia kinlis n
England Cause and eject Ga this Is iu au
things are separated by q wider interyai
than i'm almost amy other country Public
opinion IS fully aroused now. r did not
need another 81 William Watsou's lyrics
and series OF Gladstone notes 70 iuh.me
IT, Watsou's lyrics are sufficiently savage
This IS one OF his stanzas addressed to
Greece:
''Who are these would bind thy hands?
Knaves and dastards. none beside.
All the just IN an the lands
Hail thee blest and sanctided.
Curst who would thy trimph mar.
BE ne kaiser. be he car"
Greece VIII Stand Firm.
No news has been received of the rece0-
ton Of the note or ultimatum from the
powers to Greece. but IL IS generally eX-
pected that it VIII be sent today
Its terms ana the number of signatures
It has viii signify much. There is no real /
reason. however. for thinking the Greek /
government will change IT'S attitude or
its purpose IN response 20 a demand on I
the line of Lord salisbury's speech
All accounts agree that II is not within /
the power Of the king or government of /
Greece to change its policy AZ such bid /
ding. Quite aside. therefore. from the /
question Of the unanimity cf the powers :
the situation is sim one Of the greatest
difficulty. The financial side of the situa-
tion is interesting.
1t is possible to insure almost anything 4
IN London and a great many persons 10
whose ventures war would be dangerous
have been taking out policies against such
a contingency at Iloyds during the past
Few days These are the latest rates to
pay in the event Of war between England
and France. Germany or Russia:
Within one year per cent Of the amount
insured policy against a war between any
of the six great powers. before August Goth I
costs So per cent. and against war be
tween England and any European country (
except Turkey 81 per cent.
II is something that a policy against n
war between England and the Transvaal /
republic within the next year cost ia per !
cent
An Englshman who passed through Sa- !
lonica at the beginning of this week writes /
that nobody seeing the Turkish recruits |
arriving there would suppose they would |
be able to make much of a fight against