The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-12
Out. Of the Present Diff
Guilty Over Crete.
That Contemplating Coercion
Is a Dangerous One.
What May Follow if King George
Abdicates In His Sons Favor.

| Copyright. 1897. by the Associated Prsss.) -
Athens March IA lull has followed
the reply of Greece to the Powers and
everybody seems to be wondering where
andswhen the storm will break out afresh
In spite of the repeated assertions made i'm
the different capitals of Europe that the
Powers are acting in concert toward
Greece, it is remarked here that If this
was the case the threatened coercion
would have been an accomplished fact
long before this
There seem to be but three ways out of
the present difficulty. The most popular
is that the Powers must accept the offers
| of Greece TO withdraw her fleet from
Cretan waters and allow her army of
| occupation TO remain, nominally under
the control of foreign officer outranking
Col Nassos TO be used for the pacification
OF the island and when that Is accom-
piished, "a plebiscite should decide whether
the Cretans prefer annexation or auton-
| omy
The second solution is the coercion. real
or seeming, of Greece by the blockade of the
Greek coasts as we'll as the Island of
Crete. This would be a dangerous and
difficult task. In the first place it would
require an immense fleet of vessels owing
to the almost innumerable islands COM
posing the Grecian archipelago to make
such blockade effective. In the second
place Greece's reply to this would prob.
ably be the lighting of fires of war i'm
Macedonia and the beginning of a confia-
grafton which might spread all over
Europe: The most dangerous spot on the
map or Europe at present is the frontier
OF Thessaly. If Greece is coerced or If She
does not obtain the substance OF her de-
mands she Is liable TO force the hands OF
the Powers by crossing the border, trying
TO raise the Balkans and thus possibly
bringing about the long contemplated
dismemberment of the Turkish empire.
The third solution of this dangerous
and difficult problem is contained in the
renewed rumors that King George of
Greece may abdicate i'm favor of his eldest
son, Constantine, Duke of Sparta, the
crown prince, whose wife is the Princess
Sophia of Prussia, sister OF Emperor Will
liam of Germany. There are many people
who believe that the kings abdication
would be the best means of clearing up
the situation. While the stand taken by
King George in the present crisis has
undoubtedly improved his position among
the Greeks, his abdication would be a
popular STEP as the populace has never
quite forgiven the king for being for
cigner while his sons who were born in
Greece, are regarded as being one with
themselves The crown princess Is known
10 be n triile jealous of Prince George,
the sailor prince, second son of the King,
whom the latter always allows to be
bracketed with the crown prince.
The princess it should be added, is
said To be furious at Emperor William for
having sided with the Turks against her
adopted people. Her husband is much
admired ana respected, but he is man
of silent, retiring disposition, and is dis
posed to ignore the shouts of the populace.
Prince George is of different temper.
He is the popular idol and many would
prefer him TO his elder brother as King
of Greece
In any case, the war fever is apparently
suhsiding due no doubt to the popular
belief that an agreement may be reached
between the Greek and Turkish govern
ments directly for the settlement of the
Cretan question without the intervention
of the Powers. This belief, however,
does not prevail in diplomatic circles,
where it is said that the settlement can
only be arrived at through the Powers
There is no doubt that the decrease in
excitement here tends To present mntters
IN "A brighter light for popular clamor had
great deal TO do with the defiant posi-
tion assumed by the Greek government.
There Is no cessation in military activity.
On both frontiers troops have held stra-
tcgic positions and rcinforcements are
being pushed forward night and day.
The armed peasants on both sides are the
most dangerous factors on the frontiers.
A conflict between them may occur at
any moment and then Ii may be beyond
human power To stem the tide of war
which has been sullenly rising i'm this
part of the world for long time past
The action of the Powers in allowing
the foreign warships 10 fire upon tho i'm
surgcnts and the later conflicts between
the foreign marines and the insurgents
have had very bad effect among the
people here, irritating them To- great
degree against everything i'm the shape Of
foreign intervention in the affairs Of
Grpccc.
The calmcr minds are counselling pru-
dcncc but, the situation il almost as
grave as IL could he and Greece Is pro-
pared To make the greatest sacrifices II
driven 10 desperation.
The following semi-official announce
ment was made this afternoon: The
Powers, while united In principle have
not yet been able To rench n solution OF
the Crctan question. Proposals and OBJ.
jections are being exchanged hourly.
The program drawn up by the adnirals
In Crctan waters Is as follows First -
A blockade OF the Island of Crete.
Sccond-A blockade of tho Piraeus and
some other Greek ports.
Third. The seizure by a detachment of
the fleet of the telegraph Office at syria
Fourth. Any Greek warShips cncoun-
tered are 10 be taken to the Island Of Milo
and kept there.
. Fifth. Any Greek wnrships firing on
any foreign warships are To he sunk and
the act TO bc considered a casns bcllum.
SixtlL-Any Greek torpedo boat near
ing foreign watship Is 10 be fired at
seventh. As the blockade ~ Greece viii
require all the crews OF tho foreign war
Continued on Page Three.