The herald., 1897-04-18
WHY TURKEY DELAYS

Constantinople says that the sublime
porte has sent a communication to the
ambassadors pointing out that the
Greeks have succeeded In crossing tho
frontier, taking the Turkish positions
at many points. 1t is because the Turk
ish commander In chief desires to carry
out instructions to the effect that he
should remain on the defensive to prove
beyond dispute that the Greeks were
the aggressors.
RUSSIAN SYMPATHY
LONDON. April ia dispatch to the
Observer from Athens says that four
Russian officers who refused to lombard
the insurgents on the island of Crete
were tried at Sebastopol and acquitted
The Russian crews threatened mutiny
IL the bombardment is undertaken.
THE SITUATION
LONDON, April 1.-THE Greco-Turk-
ish situation Is understood here to be
substantially as follows:
War has not been officially declared
between Turkey and Greece, but 1t has
been declared officially to have "broken
out" The Turkish cabinet has decided
to sever diplomatic elations with Greece
and has ordered Edhem Pasha, the COM
rIander of the Turkish forces, to take
the offensive. 1t Is said in London that
war between Turkey and Greece has
actually begun, the Turkish declarations
that war has "broken out" being merely
for the purpose of automatically putting
the onus of the war upon the kingdom
Of Greece.
AT WASHINGTON
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 Asso-
ciated Press were taken to the White
House and to members of the cabinet.
leading diplomatic representatives and
the chairman of the foreign affairs COM
mittees in congress. so that those most
interested in the event received infor-
nation Of the gravity which the situa-
tion has assumed. The expressions
were general that the United States
could not be drawn into the conflict and
that the course of this country was
plain in preserving strict neutrality. It
was felt on all hands among officials
| that the real gravity in the announce
ment was in the prospect that it would
serve as the spark to start the confiagra-
| ton through all Europe.
| Secretary Sherman was seen at his
residence tonight and shown the bulle-
tins.
"It is no surprise to me-" said the
| secretary of state, "as recent events
have seemed to make war inevitable.
and have expected that result to come
Fortunately the scene of the reported
rtarvs- nus IIrtle or no concern with the
war. We will, of course, observe the
strictest neutrality as between the par
| ties. This Is a natural result from the
| conditions prevailing and will require
| 70 specific declaration of neutrality. Our
commercial interests with Greece and
! Turkey are small, so there is no ground
| for disturbance In that connection. Last
year our exports to Greece amounted to
| only $629, ,727, an insignificant sum, bare
ly per cent as compared with the total
exports Turkey exported to the United
States $2,619, 900 last year, showing SIM
liar lack of important commercial deal
ings 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.. Sherman's attention was called to
reports some time since that the United
States warship Bancroft might be
guardship to the United States minister,
Mr.. Terrill. at Constantinople, and the
secretary was asked if the war was
likely to renew the occasion for war;
ship in the Golden Horn.
There has been no talk of that of
late" said he. land I see no occasion
for any change in affairs"
Senator Davis, chairman Of the SEN
ate foreign relations committee, read
the bulletins with great interest, and
in response to a request for a state
ment, said: "The attitude of the United
States will, of course, be one of neu-
trality and of strict observance of treat
les. The war can have little direct eff
feet upon us, as our interests are so
small in that part of the world. But it
is of profound Importance to Europe,
and fear it is but the first step toward
a conflict INVOLVING all Europe. It is
almost certain to result, unless quick
ard decisive victory is achieved by one
side or the other"
Mr.. Davis was asked If Greece had
energetic war. He said: "The strength
thought. They have 1000, 900 people, and
this would probably include a fighting
force of about 100, 900 men, but the Greek
population is very extensive outside
of Greece. and 1t is made UP of devoted,
loyal and enthusiaitsc people. It ex-
tends all through Asia Minor and into
Turkey. There are the Greek colonies
in Europe. as well as the former Turk
ish countries Of Montenegro and Servia,
which have been very restless and
threatening of late"
The Turkish minister, Mustapha Bey,
received the representative of the As
sociated Press at the Turkish legation
tonight and read with great interest
dispatches from Constantinople. Up to
that time (midnight) the minister had
no official dispatches. but he was en- |
phatic in stating that Turkey was ex- |
every possible means Of avert
ing war;
Representative Hit, chairman of the |
house committee on foreign affairs DUR '
ing the last congress. and undoubted |
chairman of the new committee, read |
the early dispatches from Constanti-
nople and then commented briefly on
the situation.
I'm the event Of war" he said. "the
duty of the United States would be
plain, to maintain neutrality and to
see that her treaty obligations were
The sympathy of our peo-
pie would be with Greece in this strug-