Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-04
cprrcr AND THE POWERS.

There has been so much backing and
filling" on the part Of the Powers In deal
INK with the Graeco-Cretan problem, ana
so many dscordant notes have entered
into their bosted concert. that II would
be well 10 be little cautious In accept
ing anv announcement as to their future
programme. Yet. II they carry out their
threat OF blockading the Greek ports ana
patrolling the Aegean sea, the chances
are that we shall soon see the beginning
of the end.
There are, however, several factors OF
the situation that the Powers, 1t would
seem. would do well TO consider very care
fully before putting into execution the
threat above referred to- For the mere
matter OF blockading the Greek ports
history would be simply repeating itself.
That course was pursued in 1885, Mr..
Gladstone. the great phil-Hellcne. who
was then Great Britains Premier. con-
senting thereto, and British Warships
taking an active and prominent part
in the movement. But would the repe-
tition 20 any further-would the historic
parallel continue? That is a serious ques-
ton. In 1886. upon the demand Of the
Powers. enforced by the blockade the
Greek army was reduced to a peace foot
ing and withdrawn from the frontier. In
other words. the Greeks were bullied into
submitting TO the will Of the European
concert.
But as intense as was the war leeiihg
in Greece then. and as strained as was
the situation. in neither condition were
the elements of danger as fully developed
as they are now. The Greeks are In
no temper TO sumbit TO bullying a
second time. and ii would be dangerous
70 the government to advise them to do
so. 1t is therefore believed that should
the Powers establish the blockade. the
Greek Government would be forced by
the populace TO declare war upon turkey
Indeed, it is said that should the Greeks
become satisfied that the Powers are
really in earnest In their threat
declaration Of war will probably be
forthcoming before the blockade goes
into effect.
In the event OF a declaration Of war
upon Turkey by Greece, or vice versa,
international law, it is held, would de-
mand that the Powers remain neutral.
The blockading scheme would. there
fore. probably be abandoned, but it Is
hardly to be questioned that the interven-
ton of the Powers in another form
would soon follow. 1t seems to be ac-
cepted that Greece could not make
successful stand against Turkey. and as
the Powers could not afford, indeed, as
some of them would never agree to a
further ACKNOWLEDGMENT of Greece, they
would be compelled TO interfere, in order
to restore the status quo at least.
But the pregnant menace is that the
war would not be confined TO conflict
between the original principals. Al
though the expected uprisings in Mace
donia have not occurred. and Ferdinand
of Bulgaria, and Alexandria, of Servia,
have given assurance that they will sup
port the peace policy of the concert, it is
none the less unlikely that the Powers
would not have also Macedonian, a
Servian, and a Bulgarian question upon
their hands before they got through.
Here would come in the conflicting In
terests of Russia and Austria Hungary.
and the old query arises whether inter-
vention would not result in the Powers
getting at one another's throats
1t would appear, therefore, that Greece
still holds the key TO the situation, and
1t would be wisdom on the part OF the
Powers 10 continue to make haste slowly.
In feeling the hand of King George and
those who are suspected of being secretly
in sympathy with him, it might be well
for them to play warily, lest they be
forced to expose their own hands and
thus bring about exactly what the con-
cert. so far as it is a concert, was formed
to prevent.