New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-21
GREECE AND THE POWERS.
THE cRETAN QUESTION AS SEEN FROM
BERLIN AND LONDON.

WIDELY DIFFERENT MOTIVES AscRIBED TO THE
KAISER IN HIS DESIRE TO GEORGE KING
GEORGES GovERNMENT-THE MED
ITERRANEAN FLEETS
Berlin. Feb 20-The proposals Of the Emperor
TO blockade the Piraeus. the port OF Athens
which certain foreign newspapers. especially the
| English journals. yesterday characterized as
| having failed completely, are on the verge OF
provisional acceptance by England. Italy ana
| France. Prior to the Kaiser's starting on d
shooting trip to Hubertusstock last evening ne
| received dispatches from London and Rome con-
veying the information that the British ana l'a-
ian Governments had assented 20 the proposal
| to blockade the coast Of Greece In the event OF
the persistence Of the King Of the Hellenes In
going to war with Turkey unless Crete should
be coded to Greece. The request made by Lord
Salisbury that Greece be allowed time TO pause
| and consider the effect OF her headstrOng action
has been virtually conceded by the Powers and
| il King George decides upon a cessation or war
like operations the ending of hostilities and the
| union of Crete with Greece must be made coinci-
! dent Should the King decide otherwise, Germany,
Russia and Austria with or without the CO.
| operation Of the other Powers. will undertake
to coerce Greece into submission to the wishes
| Of the European Governments. 1t is expected IN
official quarters here that the negotiations with
| the Government at Athens will be ended and
| decision reached one way or the other by Tues
| day. and II is also believed here that England
| and Italy will join the other Powers in block
ade OF the Piraeus II such action is decided upon
The Emperor has been much blamed Tor tax
| Ing precipitate action against Greece, but there
| Is good reason for saying that his sudden invi-
tation was largely due to the receipt Of concur
otcha frorr opqta n Athens.
representing the imminence Of the danger Of
Turkish invasion Of Greece, which the Greek
forces are utterly unprepared to resist. King
George had practically asked Russia and Ger
many to prevent the Porte from making war
upon the Greek frontier while Greece used her
land and forces to acquire possession OF
Crete but this extremely cool request was not
complied with The Emperor's' foreign policy
is not by any means guided by public opinion,
but the weight of public opinion in this case is
certainly on the side of approval Of the EN-
peror's policy of intervention to restrain Greece
from plunging into war. Only few Liberal
newspapers, which biassed by sentiment
favorable to Greece protest against the blockad-
ing Of the Piraeus Nevertheless. German popu-
lar feeling is In nowse in sympathy with the
Turk The policy of the Emperor is receiving
popular support because 1t is generally recog-
nized az being most opportune and prudent.
The Cologne Gazette" expresses the drift Of
the best current opinion by saying that the
Powers must counterbalance the pressure of
Turkey by checking with severity the schemes
Of Greece The same paper also asserts that
Germany will insist that Greece must evacuate
Crete before the Powers consider the matter of
the administration Of the islard The actual
position Of the negotiations on the subject at
present shows. however that this assertion Is
not correct as the Powers are now discussing
the scheme of administration proposed by Lord
Salisbury, which permits the Greek troops which
already in Crete to remain on the island
until settlement Of the Cretan difficulty is
completed. There is profound conviction in
political circles here that Greece will submit TO
tie wishes of the Powers and that an extern
sion of the is highly improbable.
London. Feb 2O.-hll political interest is now
centred in the struggle over Crete, and. though
1t would be unwise predict what the
outcome will be, it is the general opinion here
that Greece will ultimately attain her object
and again count the island Of her posses
sions. Popular opinion in England Is strongly
in favor of Gree q. The proposal made by Ger
many that joint fleet of the Powers blockade |
the Piraeus, the port OF Athens. in order to COM
pei Greece TO heed the demands made upon her. |
has caused the deepest Indignation here 1t is
pointed out that the youthful and extremely
impulsive German Emperor may have other
than political objects In view in his desire to
infct humiliation upon the Greeks.
Prince Constantine, Duke of Sparta, heir APP
parent to the throne of Greece, married some
six years ago Princess Sophia OF Prussia. Sis
ter Of Emperor William. The Princess, who
was a Lutheran, changed her religious faith
when she married Prince Constantine, and had
the temerity to do this without consulting the
wishes Of her august brother or asking his per-
mission. This ignoring Of his prerogati"e irri-
tated the Emperor, and he has since been on
unfriendly terms with the Princess and her hus
band, and it is barely possible that, in addition
LA &c
DESTROYS of letting the Greeks know that he
does not readily forgive what he considers an
injury done TO his dignity by their Crown Prin-
This. of course seems a puerile reason for
attempting to thwart the aspirations Of liberty
loving people but those who are acquainted with
Emperor Williams disposition do not hesitate to
assign to him motives that would be termed con-
temptibe II they were displayed by men Of less
exalted station.
However, 1t can be asserted with confidence
that whatever the Emperor's motive may have
BEEN the German proposal has met with scant
appreciation. All the Powers which popular
feeling counts have refused to accede to the
German proposition. Even Italy and France
will not give their consent to it, though Russia.
despite the relations between the Cars family
and that Of King George, is strongly hostile to
Greece.
1t is the unanimous desire of England that
Lord Salisbury take firm lead in the matter,
since experts maintain that the British fleet
dominates the Mediterranean as completely rs
ever Napoleon's armies dominated the Continent.
When the graVest news reached the Foreign
Office, Lord Salisbury questioned the Admiralty
relative 10 the strength Of the several fleets in
the Mediterranean. Mr.. Goschen. First Lord of
the Admiralty. replied: I'VE could whip the lot"
And figures show that this statement is true.
Moreover, Italy is acting In complete harmony
with Great Britain, and their Joint naval arma- |
ments preponderate 300 tons and 800 guns
over the fleets Of the other Powers
Lord Salisbury aims to secure autonomy for !
Crete upon lines similar to those upon which |
autonomy was granted to the Island Of Samos. |
with a Greek prince to administer its affairs !
The secondary part that is being played by /
France Is due to her absolute knowledge that |
she Is not prepared TO become involved In a |
naval war.
TRENTON'S NORMAL SCHOOL ALUMNI. |
FIFTY eradiiates Of the New Jcrsey State Normal |