The record-union., 1897-03-26

Crown Prince Constantine rs Com
mander- in Chief of the Greek army in
Thessaly, and the decree will be pub
lished tomorrow. 1t is understood that
the Crown Prince will not wait for the
actual appearance of his commission
in print, but will start for the frontier
at o'clock tomorrow morning.
The departure of the Prince with the
approval of the King and the Cabinet
to take supreme command of the army
can have but one meaning. The Greek
Government is determined not to ac-
cept the terms offered by the Powers
for a peaceful settlement of the Gre
tan difficulty His presence among the
troops is certain to have the most ex-
hilarating effect upon them, and it is
notice to Turkey that if a conflict
comes the Greek troops will enter 1T
under the leadership Of their own
choice. The step thus taken is mo-
mentous.
The official "Prioa" denies that the
Government had any proposal to the
Powers respecting Crete beyond its or
iginal reply to the identical notes of the
Powers. The military preparations go
on increasingly upon large scale.
Contracts are being placed abroad Tor
blankets and cloth for uniforms, as well
as other equipments.
The Greek newspapers continue with
one voice to denounce the proposal that
Prince George should become Governor
of Crete, and it is generally felt that
the temper of the Powers is such that
this solution could not now be accepted
by the Government, even if the Powers
were willing to accept it.
The news of Lord Salisbury's eX-
pected interview with M. Hanotaux
has made a great sensation, and 1t is
regarded as the only possible chance OF
arriving at settlement which will
avert war.
Already an agitation has begun for
the return of the Cars donation for
the benefit of the Cretan refugees. more
than this, the people now demand that
the clergy shall cease to pray for the
Gar
Thousands of signatures are append
ed to a protest by Cretans against the
blockade.
ENGLAND'S CHANGE OF POLICY.
CONSTANTINOPLE, March 23.-The
change in the policy of Great Britain,
foreshadowed in these dispatches yes
terday. has assumed a definite shape.
Tne recent massacre of Armenians
at Tokat, the danger of further out
breaks at Anatolia and the action of
the Porte in semi POLITICALLY pointing
out to the Turkish press and provincial
officials that the blockade of Crete by
the fleets of the Powers and the sup
-
port given the Turkish forces by the
foreign fleets was a triumph for the
policy of the Sultan, have had the eff
feet of showing that the Christians OF
Armenia are in danger of extermina-
ton.
Consequently, it is semi-officially
stated here that the British admiral in
Cretan waters has been notified rot to
send any of the warships of Great
Britain to take part in the proposed
blockade of the ports of Greece.
At the same time, however, in order
apparently to avoid an open rupture
with the Powers, Great Britain will ac-
quiesce in the blockade of Greek ports.
According to the reports in diploma
tic circles here, the Powers have al
ready been notified to this effect The
Sultans advisers are making the best
of the situation by pointing to the fact
that so long as the Sultan has the sup
port of the others Powers he has moth
ing to fear from Great Britain. 1t is
whispered that France will in all
probability follow the example of Great
Britain France it is expected, is
ready to take the step without dis
turbing to any appreciable degree her
accord with Russia, and it is added
that in any case the French Govern
ment would not risk taking part in the
blockade of Greece without first con-
sulting the Chamber of Deputies.
1t is stated that Great Britain has
intimated to the Powers that IL Greece
is blockaded steps should also be taken
to blockade the Turkish ports. Greece,
it is explained, had previously made a
similar proposal to the Turkish Gov
ernment but the Porte consulted with
the ambassadors of Russia and Ger
many, seemingly the foremost friends
of Turkey at the present juncture, with
the result that the representatives of
these Powers advised the Turkish Gov
ernment to decline the offer
FALSE TO CRETANS
NEW 1ofh, MdIcH GA uiSpdtcH
to the Herald from st. Petersburg
says:
Advices received here show that Col
onel Vassos is busy spreading "a report
among the Cretan insurgents that the
Powers wish to deliver them into the
hands of the Turks.
The Greeks themselves openly declare
that their aim is to set Europe by the
ears, but that is well known, and is
being thoroughly checkmated
If the Greeks continue to prove stub
born they will probably receive a no.
tification that in case they force the
situation by compelling the Turks to
an attack they need expect neither