The herald., 1897-03-13

gan.
reached between the Greek and Turkish
governments for the settlement of the
Cretan question without the interven-
tion of the powers. This belief, however.
does not obtain in diplomatic circles.
There Is no cessation in military activ-
ity and Greece is prepared to make the
greatest sacrifices If driven to despera-
ton.
RUSSIAN OPINION
NEW YORK, March 12.-A dispatch
to the Herald from st. Petersburg says:
Russia has not changed her ideas Of the
Cretan question. These reports are be-
ing sperad by some revolutionary Slav-
onic societies. The government here is
absolutely firm and unfiinohing In its
attitude that there can be no negotia-
tions with Greece until she has with
drawn from her position as an offender
in defying the powers. 1t Is considered
that were once a precedent given. all
the small countries would, when 1t
pleased them, follow suit and the pow
ers would absolutely lost control.
| u Special Importance attaches itself to
leading article in the st. Petersburg
Skya Viegomisti, as that paper has al
most given up publishing anything but
inspired articles. 1t says: Greece is
masked In sophisms of a very bad taste.
Greece is trying to play blind-man's-
buff with Europe. Her conduct must cut
her off from all her friends The ruse
| she uses places her on a plane with Tur-
30 ha Ia
| and censor of the great powers. Greece
has not worked for the paciflcation of
the island, but for union to her. Thera
| is no sense in Greece saying 1t Is her
sacred cause to rescue Crete from Tur-
key No one proposes giving Crete to
| Turkey. We must not invariably talk
of humanity, but also of loyalty. If we
| allow Greece to come out and usurp
| international right. there will always bs
| anarchy"
WAR IMPOSSIBLE
| BUDA PEST, March 12.-In the lower
house Of the diet today the president,
Baron Banffy, said that in spite of the
conflicts in Crete there was no cause for
war in the Balkans. Turkey was strong
enough to nip In the bud any revolution
|
absolutely no knowledge of an alliance
of the Balkan states. and he expected
and believed the powers were prepared
to render the chance of Graeco- Turkish
war impossible.
WANTS SOME WARSHIPS
ONSTANTINOPLE, March 12.-In
semi official circles here It Is positively
asserted that the admiral of the sultan's
civil list is negotiating with the United
States government for the purchase Of
two or three iron-clads, which have al
ready been completed in the United
| States, and It is added that the sum of
$4,000 has already been paid on ac-
| count
| A DELUGE OF TALK.
| ATHENS, March 12.-The Cretan
| question is passing through a period Of
quiescence. lull having followed the re-
ply of the Greeks to the powers, and
everybody seems to be wondering where
and when the storm will break out
afresh. In spite of the repeated asser-
tions made in different capitals of Eu-
rope that the powers are acting in con-
cert, 1t is remarked here that If this was
| the case, the theatened coercion Of
Greece would have been an accomplish
| ed fact long before this. There seems to
be but three ways out of the present
difficulty. The most popular is that the
| powers must accept the offer of Greece
| to withdraw her fleet from Cretan
waters and allow her army Of occupa-
ton to remain, nominally under the con-
troll of foreign officer outranking Col.
Vassos, to be used for the pacification Of
the island and when that is accomplish
| ed, a plebiscite shall decide whether the
Cretans prefer annexation to autonomy.
The second suggested solution is the
coercion, real or seeming. of Greece, by
the blockade of the Greek coasts as we'll
| as the island of Crete. This would be
dangerous and difficult task. In the first
place it would require an immense feet,
owing to the almost innumerable islands
composing the Grecian archipelago to
make such a blockade effective. Be-
sides. Greece's reply to the proposition
would probably be the lighting of the
fires of war in Macedonia, the beginning
of 4 confagration which might spread
all over Europe.
The most dangerous spot on the map
of Europe at present is the frontier OF
Thessaly. If Greece is coerced, or II she
does not obey the substance Of her de-
mands, she is liable to force the hands
Of the powers and this might be done
In more ways than one, such a. crossing
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