The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-02-22
WILLIAM WANTS TO FIGHT
Gsrmany's Emperor Insists on Block
aiding PiraeuS.
AT BERLIN THEY CLAIM OTHER
POWERS ARE WITH HIM.

Nevertheless the King of the Bellenes
Goesl About His Business and
Insists on Protecting His Subjects in
Crete.
Berlin, February 20.-The proposals
of tho Emperor to blockade the Piraeus,
the port of Athens, which certain for
eign newspapers, especially the English
journals, yesterday characterized as hav-
Ing failed completely, are on the verge of
provisional acceptance by England, Italy
and France. Prior to the Cars start-
ing on shooting trip to Hubertusst0ck
last evening, His Majesty received de-
spatches from London an Rome con-
veying information that the British and
italian governments has assented to the
proposals. to blockade the coast Of Greece
in the event of the persistence of the
King of the Hellenesin going to war
with Turkey unless Crete should be
ceded to Greece. The request made by
Lord Salisbury that Greece he allowed
time to pause and consider the effect Of
her headstrong action, has been virtually
conceded by the Powers, and If King
George decides upon cessation of war
like operations the ending of hostili-
ties and the union of Crete with Greece
must be made ooincident. Should the
king decide otherwise, Germany, Russia
and Austria, with or without the CO.
operation of the other Powers will I'M
dertake to coerce Greece into submits
sioz to the wishes of tho European gov
ernments. 1t is expected in official quar-
tiers that negoti atioEs with the govern
ment at Athens will be concluded and
decision reached one way or the other
by Turkey and 1t is also believed here
that England and Italy will join the
other powers IL blockade of the Piraeus
if such action is decided upon.
The Emperor has been much blamed
for taking precipitate action against
Greece, but there is good reason for stat
ing that His Majesty's sudden invita-
ton was largely due to the receipt Of
concurrent dispatches from CONSTANT
nople aud Athens representing the inn
minence of the danger of Turkish inva-
sion of Greece which the Greek forces
are utterly unprepared to resist. King
George had practically asked Russia and
Germany to prevent the Porte frcm max
ing war upon the Greek frontier while
Greece used her land and sea forces to
acquire possession of Crate, but this ex-
tremely cool request was not complied
with. The Emperor's foreign policy is
not by any means guided by public opin-
ion, but the weight of public opinion in
this case is certainly an approval Of the
Emperor's policy Of Intervention to re-
strain Greece from plunging into war.
Only few Liberal newspapers which are
biased by sentim emit favorable to Greece,
protest against the blockading of the
Piraeus. Nevertheless German popular
feeling is in no wise in sympathy with
the Turk. The policy of the Emperor is
receiving popular support because it is
generally recognized as being most op-
perfume and prudent
The Cologne Gazette expresses the drift
of the lest current opinion by saying
the Powers must counter balance the
pressure of Turkey by checking with
severity the schemes of Greece. The
same paper also asserts that Germany
will insist tibet Greece must evacuate be-
fore the Powers consider the matter of
the administration of the island. The
actual position of the negotiations on
the subject at present, shows, however,
10 ,of +I-a
Powers are now discussing the scheme of
administration proposed by Lord Sails
bury which permits the Greek troops,
which nre already in Crete, to remain
on the island until the settlement OF the
Cretan difficulty is completed. There is
profound conviction in political dr.
Giles here that Greece will submit to the
wishes of the Powers and that an extern
sion of the war is highly improbable.
Baron Marschalle Won BUeberstsin, min
lister of foreign affairs, received tbs Greak
minister to Germany today and held a
somewhat lengthy conversation with him
regarding the attitude of Greece towards
Crete and the Powers. 1t is understood
that the Greek minister gave satisfac-
tory assurances that there would be ces-
sation of war movements on the part
of Greece in Crete and on the Turkish
frontier.
The seni-oficial North German Gazette
publishes what is believed to be an in
spired article ON the Cretan question.
1t says Germany is willing to negotiate
with the other great Powers concerning
the future of Crete, but only on two on
ditions, the first of which it that the isl :
and must not be annexed to Geece, and
the second that Greece's present action
must. be stopped BEFORE the negotiations
begin.
Marines Landed.
Cameo. February 20.-A small force of
British Italian and French mariners
are occupying the town of Sitia, on the
eastern extremity of the island, whore
a few days ago the Moslems we're mas
sacred by Christians.
Quiet has been restored in the town
and the presence Of the foreign marines
is regarded as assurance that no furth-
H.