Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-05-27
RUSSIA THE MASTER.


Thessaly. and has, it is said, promised
his Ministers that he viii not abandon
that province: and a report comes from
Athens that Great Britain has declared
her intention to quit the concert Of the
Powers If IL be determined that occupa-
ton Of Thessaly by Turkish troops shall
continue until Greece shall have PAD
the war indemnity demanded by turkey
There was a time when a report OF TINS
character regarding Great Britain would
have been deemed pregnant with i'm
portance. But, alas. that time has pass
ed. In the first place. 1t WA be ques-
toned whether Great Britain has ex-
pressed such an intention. In the Sc
cond place it will be doubted whether
she will carry out the intention if she
has expressed il. In the third place, II
she has expressed the intention and car
ries it out, it does not follow that her
divorce from the concert Will change the
current of events, as such action would
probably have done two decades ago.
The later phases of both the far east
ern question and the little eastern ques-
ton have shown conclusively that Great
Britain is no longer the debating force
in European diplomacy Her threats
and ultimatums no longer cause serious
uneasiness in the Continental capitals.
Not since she compelled Russia TO re-
linquish the chief advantages the latter
had gained i'm the last Russo-Turkish
war and readjusted matters through the
treaty of Berlin has Britain given evil
dence Of her old-time dominating iniiu-
ence.
In respect Of influence and prestige
among the Powers, Great Britain ana
Russia have been reversing positions
While the former has been descending
the latter has been ascending in the scale.
This is illustrated in the aftermath OF
the war between China and Japan IN the
history of the Armenian question, in the
details of the Cretan problem, and last
but not least, in the manner IN Which
actual hostilities between Turkey ana
Greece were caused to be suspended.
Great Britain was clearly outwitted by
negotiations, was prevented by Russia
from keeping her pledges respecting the
Christians in Armenia, and has all along
plaved TO Russia's leadership second
fiddle in the Graeco-Cretan and Graeco-
Turkish affair. Russia has not only
proved herself master of the situation as
respects the immediate issue between
Greece and Turkey, but has it appears,
succeeded in getting hold upon the
Balkan States that means mastership OF
the little eastern question as ii projects
into the future.
Unless Great Britain, in the event OF
her Withdrawing from concert, shall
carry a plenty of company with her, the
chances are that the final settlement OF
the Graeco-Turkish question will be just
as Russia may wish and dictate. If
Russia shall acquiesce in the proposition
for continued occupation of Thessaly by
Turkish troops, and none gainsay ii save
Great Britain, the occupation Will pro-
baby continue. On the contrary, as the
situation now presents itself, If Russia
shall demand evacuation, the demand, 1T
IS altogether likely, will be complied
with. the expert testimony Of the Grand
AIufti as to the will of Allah regarding
Thessay, which he doesn't know any
thing about, to the contrary notwlth-
standing. In brief, Greece would have
very little to expect from Great Britain's
going IL alone i'm the matter of with
drawal from the concert If the Car
does not prove her friend, her only hope
is that the jealousy of the other Powers
of Russian influence al both CONSTANT
nople and in the Balkans Will drive Rus
STA into isolation.