New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-19
A SURPRISE TO LONDON.
THE DECISIVE ACTION OF THE SULTAN
UNEXPECTED.
MEMBERS OF THE BRITISH CABINET SCATTERED
OVER THE CONTINENT AT THE OUTBREAK
OF HosrILITIEs IN THE EAsT-IGNo-
MINIoUs FAILURE OF THE CONCERT


OF HosTILIrTEs IN THE EAsT-TGNo-
MrNIous FAILURE OF THE CONCERT.
tBY CABLE TO THE rRrBUNE
London April 1S-The sudden change in the
situation in the East has come when the Foreign
ONCE is without It's chief and Under Secretary.
and when every political leader Of eminence is
away from London A Turkish declaration Of
war would have caused no surprise a week ago.
when the Greek irregulars crossed the frontier.
but when day after day passed and the Sultan
seemed to lack courage and htstated to give
the signal for which Edhem Pacha waa waiting,
the opinion generally cnt ,rtaned that the
Concert had proved useful for once. and that the
Powers were preventing an outbreak OF war.
This opinion. which exI ressed in nearly
every daily and weekly journal yesterday. was
shattered after midnight by the news from Con-
stantinople that state Of war has been declared.
and that the Turkish Army was advancing tow
ard Larissa
Easter being one OF the quietest Sundays OF
the year. and the West End being empty and
the principal clubs des s,rted, the outbreak of
war has not caused any excitement here. The
Foreign Office staff admit that the action of
Turkey ls decisive and that serious fighting on
the frontier has already begun. What is now
evident TO every one is that the Concert instead
OF triumphing and vindicatlng its utility as was
SUI posed twenty four hours ago. has utterly
failed to prevent an outbreak Of hostities. and is
now in danger Of breaking down altogether.
Sir William Harcourt who speaks this week in
Wales will have fine opportunity for empha-
sizing his recent criticisms Of Unionist diplomacy
and for harassing the Government in his most
aggressive style. Massingham and Labouchere
have shown themselves to be sagacious proph-
cts. and Sir William Harcourt probably now re-
grets that he did not take a bolder course AMI
move a vote Of censure
Greece has carried he- point OF compelling
Turkey to be the aggressor. Her own campaign
is defensive ard this has an important bearing
tr the action OF the Powers. Turkey makes
war on Greece and forces her to defend her ter
rtories. Greece. Consequently is not making
war on the Powers, and the combined blockade
and other coerciv, measures cannot consistently
be maintained after an outbreak of hostities.
This is great advantage and one we'll worth
waiting for But, with the exception OF right
ecus cause. It is almost the only one which the
Greeks have. The Turks have :he heavier bat
talions. n iercer and warlike spirit. SUI
perior facilities OF transport and more acces-
ste base of operations If Macedonia remains
quiet behind them. they will possess ali the ad-
var tages of numbers. discipline. leadership ami
position in the campaign now orening. If Mace
donia revolts there will be appalling massacres.
ard the Balkan States will he on fire.
The Powers will now devote their energies to
localizing and restricting the area Of the con-
fict. but when the resources Of the Concert have
already been exhausted in diplomatic misman-
agement little dependence can be placed upon
the success Of their efforts. Five Powers are
committed to defensive campaign by their alli-
arce. and sixth. England, has made little use
far Of the opportunity for independent decisive
action 1t Is amazing that in crisis fraught with
momentous consequences for Europe the For
eign Of'ice should be without captain or lieuten-
ant and the p -itish Cabinet scattered over the
CcEtnent. !. y. F.