The San Francisco call., 1897-03-07

zaraJik, while she can mobilize lao, 00C
men at weeks notice.
POWERS NOT IN ACCORD
England Anrious to Extend the Time
to Greece.
LONDON, ENG, March 6-There still
does not seem 10 be complete accord
among the powers, especially in the case
OF Great Britain, as to VIXEN the final
steps shall be taken to coerce Greece into
complying with the demands that have
been made upon her by what is called
United Europe" So far as foreign al
fairs go, the so-termed infallible British
Prime Minister seems to be in doubt as to
the outcome of his vigorous policy. which
has called forth heartfelt condemnation
by many English newspapers, and it is
said that he will propose to the other
powers that before blockadng the coast OF
OF time in which to consider her re-
sponse to the collective note demanding
her withdr from Crete.
Indecision is generally sign of weak.
ness, and 1t is SO believed in this case to
be. 1t is thought that Greece does rot
need any further time to consider what
reply will make to the powers. Small
and weak as she is it is judged from the
dispatches from Athens that she is thor
oughly determined to maintain her pres
ent attitude and defy the powers to do
their worst.
In the meantime the admirals COM
manding the foreign fleets off Crete have
been ordered TO report a plan for the
the face OF the menacing position evil
denced by the mobilization OF the Greek
army and report that a squadron has
started for the coast of Macedonia.
A reporter OF the United Associated
Presses was told at the Foreign Office to-
day that the officials there still had conf
dence that there would be no armed colli-
sion between Greece and the powers, and
if the statements attributed to the Greek
Prime Minister. NJ. Delyannis. be true 1t
is evident that the Foreign Office officials
are viewing the situation with an optlm-
ism that is not warranted by the facts.
Though the current of British sentiment
flows strongly in favor of Greece in the
Cretan imbros Clio, it is apparently not
strong enough to direct the policy of LORD
Salisbury. He may pretend to bow to the
popular Will, but really he is taking his
own course, acting on the dictum of Lord
Beacousfeld that diplomacy must be
guided by statesmen and not by the
"chatter of irresponsible frivolity."
Following the IDEA that the Govern
ment's foreign policy, right or wrong.
should have the support OF the country,
some of the Liberal pa pers are discovering
that something can ue said of diplomatic
action which, though contrary to general
sentiment, is, in official opinion, keeping
Europe out OF war, an opinion which it is
feared will shortly rece We a sudden
shock. The Gladstone, Labouchere and
general Liberal contention that Crete
ought to be united with Greece has led to
some public enlightenment on the exact
justice of the Greek claims, the position
OF King George toward certain of the pow
ers and what might be the results OF union
upon Crete.
1t has transpired that King George since
his settlement on the throne has been
drawing annually from England. France
and Russia a pension of f12.UO0, each
power giving him $4,000 per aunum upon
the understandin, that that sum shall
continue during the good behavior of him.
self and subjects. There are those who
look upon the Greco Cretan trouble as
prearranged scheme to save the King
and his dynasty from revolution, which
would EN- barrass the King and his guar
antors.
Anent the Greek claims, racial and re-
ligious, there are now voices heard pro-
testing that the modern Greek is the
merest mongrel making fraud ulent use of
tradition, most Indifferent Christian.
and wanting Crete for the purposes of rob-
berry. 1t certainly can be affirmed with
accuracy that the people of The Ionian
Islands ceded to Greece through Gladstone
regret the change from prosperity and no
taxation under Britain to diminished
trade and heavy imposts under Greece.
A letter issued by the Geogra phical
Commercial Society of Paris from q SYRIA
correspondent declares that tie Cretans
disIrust Greece, anu want autonomy.
Under the Turk the Cretan Christian have
been exempt from military service, paid
with much irregularity their imposts and
have long had quasi independence An
nexed to Greece they would be liable to
military duty, be burdened with taxation
and Il mob OF Greek functionaries to rule
over them and collect the taxes. This is
of course ex parte evidence. and it does
not in any way agree with the statements
of the leaders OF the Cretln insurgents,
who declare that they will fight to the
death to free themselves from every SEM
blance OF Turkish rule and who protest
that they desire annexation to Greece.
Probably Lord Salisbury and other
European diplomats care little for the cry
of Crete fol- the Cretans. But it is obvious
that autonomy similar to that of the
island of Samos would commend itself to
statesmen. Samos has purely Christi n
population and so differs from Crete,
which has about one-fourth MosIems.
Samos, be it noted, though entirely Greek,
has refused to- become q part of Greece.
preferring autonomy with an annnai
tribu OF 300. coo piastres to the Sultan to