The record-union., 1897-04-20

WASHINGTON, April 19.-"What
the immediate future holds for Eu
rope / do rot pretend to see," said John
A. Kasson, formerly United States
Minister at Vienna. Mr.. Kasson has
made a special study of the Eastern
question and is, perhaps, the best au-
thority in this country upon the pecu-
liar complications which exist in
Southeastern Europe.
Il know Muravieff, the new Russian
Minister Of Foreign Affairs at Vienna.
He was Secretary of the. Embassy. He
cared little or nothing for society. He
attended to his business first, last and
all the time. as is the Russian way.
They are, you know, among the most
patriotic people in the world He
seemed to thoughtful and studious. At
times he was even moody. If / had
then supposed he was in my time to be
the Foreign Secretary of the Empire, l
should have studied him more closely
Till we know what the Car is try
ing to do, we shall be forced merely to
guess at the future. But one thing is
certain among many things, that are
uncertain. Russia will never consent
to the acquisition of any portion of
Turkey by a strong Power, unless it is
upon a compromise which gives her
Constantinople.
Russia appears even to oppose Gre
clan acquisition, apparently in fear that
II viii be harder to WreSt the territory
which she seeks for herself from Greece
than from its indefinite control. Unless
the Powers interfere in behalf of Greece
the outlook is that the stronger nation,
having the greater army. and the bet
ter equipped troops, will get the better
of Greece. All Greece is now full of
reckless spirit, which takes no account
of the relative forces or probable disas-
ter
IF war goes on and Turkey is let
alone by the Powers, the Turks will
undoubtedly invade Greece and inflict
heavy punishment. What effect will
this have upon public opinion in those
States of Europe. whose Governments
are amenable to public opinion? If the
Turks indulge in any atrocities. or if
they seriously threaten to mutilate
Greece, the Powers will undoubtedly
interfere. part of them willingly and
part of them under the pressure of pub
lie opinion in their countries.
Unless the Powers have agreed upon
the redistribution of Turkish territory
in Europe continued Mr.. Kasson,
there is little probability of their do
ing much more by their action than on
the one hand preventing Greece ac-
Quiring the territory which she desires.
and on the other preventing the de-
struction of Greece herself
This European concert is a diplo-
matte creation of this century. resting
only on modern precedent and tradi-
ton. The earliest and most striking
instance Of its operation was the Con-
gress of Vienna in 1915 when they di-
vided up Europe according to their
pleasure. Napolon III. broke in upon
the serenity of the concert, and after
ward undertook, in part, to restore it
Its action in any given case, it is i'm
possible to foresee as it is governed by
no principle and it recognizes no law,
except that of self-interest and ex-
pediency. This was fully shown in the
Congress of Berlin in 1873 1t seems
impossible at the present time, that
this concert can be re-established in
respect to Greece beyond the limits
which have already been stated.
The Island of Crete was an early
conquest of the Turks in their aggres-
sive wars upon Europe, but has con-
tinued by large majority of its inhab-
itants TO be Greek in language. religion
and civilization. In view of the mod
ern emancipation of their race south
Of the Danube from the yoke of the
Turk, they have become more and
more restless. They have been prom
ised reforms from time to time. which
have not been executed. Their I'M
doubted wish is to be annexed tc
Greece and 1t is impossible for Greece
to understand WHY she has not as
much right to Crete as Austria had tC
Bosnia and Herzegovina The Cretans
cannot understand why Russia, which
by force of arms. emancipated their
fellow religionists in Servia and Bull
garia and elsewhere, should oppose
emancipation now.
The whole question involves that OF
deliverance of Southeastern Europe
from the Moslem yoke In RoumeIfa
Macedonia and other small States in
this section of Europe there are many