The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-04-18
VIEWED AT WASHINGTON.
Opinions of Several Prominent Off
! Gals Secured.

Washington, April 1.-THE news of
+ the crisis in the Cretan situation was
+ the absorbing topic in official circles
here tonight.
The bulletins to the Associated Press
were taken TO the White House. and
to members of the cabinet, leading Dip
lon.atic Representatives and the chair
men Of the foreign committees in con-
gress, so that those most Interested in
the event received earlysinformdtion of
the gravity Which the situation has as
sumed. Tho expressions We're general
that the United States could not be
drawn into the conflict, and that The
course of this country was llain in
preserving strict neutrality.
It was felt on all hands among off
Gals that the real gravity Of the an
nouncement wasein the prospect that
it would serve as the spark TO start
the conflagration through all Europe.
Secretary Sherman was seen at his
residence tonight and shown the bulie-
tins.
1T is no surprise to me- said the
secretary of state, as recent events
have seemed to make war inevitable,
and l have expected that result TO
come. Fortunately, the scene Of the
reported conflict is far from Us, and
the United States has little or no con-
Germ with the war. We Will. Of course,
observe the strictest neutrality as he
tween the parties. This is a natural
result from the conditions prevailing.
and will require no specific declaration
of neutrality. Our commercial interests
with Greece and Turkey are very small
so that there is no ground for disturb
ance in that connection. Last year our
exports TO Greece amounted to only
500. 727-an insignificant sum, barely
per cent as compared with the total
exports. Turkey exported to the Unit
ed States S2.6lS.0c0 last year showing
a similar lack of important commercial
dealings between the United States and
Turkey That being the case. our COM
mercial, geographical and political iso-
lation from those countries is quite
free from any possible ENHANCEMENT in
the conflict
Mr.. Shermans attention was called
to reports some time since that the
United States warship Bancroft might
be guardship TO the United States min
ister Mr.. Terrell. at Constantinople,
and the secretary was asked IL the war
was likely to renew the occasion for a /
warship in the Golden Horn.
There has been no talk of hat of /.
late" said he. and l see no occasion I,
for any change in affairs
Senator Davis. chairman of the SEN (
ate committee on foreign relations, read /
the bulletins with great interest, and /
in response to a request for state
ment, said:
The attitude of the United States /
will OF course be one of neutrality, and /
a strict observance of treaties. The
war can have little direct effect on US,
as our interests are so small in that
part Of the world. But it is of pro-
found importance to Europe and l fear
1 is but the first steD toward a con-
iict involving all Europe 1t is al
Loo. nsr.lr
and decisive victory is achieved by one
tide or the other"
Mr.. Davis was asked if Greece had
he material resources TO carry on an
war.
The strength of Greece is much
greater than is apparent" said he.
She has 500. 900 people, and this
would proba bly, include fighting force
# about 100000 men. But the Greek
population is very extensive outside of
Greece, and is made up of devoted,
oval and enthusiastic people. 1t ex-
ends all through Asia Minor and into
Turkey. There are the Greek colonies
n Europe. as well as the former Turk
sh countries of Montenegro and Ser
ia, which have been very restless and
threatening of late
The Turkish minister, Moustapha
ley. received the report of the Asso-
lated Press at the Turkish legation
onight and read with great interest s
dispatches from Constantinople. Up TO
hat time (midnighD the minister had
eceived no official dispatches on the {
ubject. but he was emphatic in stat
ng that Turkey was exhau5ting every 1
ossible means of averting war
Representative Hit, chairman of the g
ouse committee on foreign affairs {
uring the last congress. and the un-
QUILTED chairman of the new commit c
se. read the early dispatches from 6
onstantinople and then commented | i
rie6y on the situation. S
I'm the event of war; said he. the =
uty of the United States would be j
lain to maintain neutrality. and to see i
lat her treaty obligations are main II
CONTINUED on page 81 u