Evening journal., 1897-04-05
The cars organ on The situation.

ST. Petersburg. Apnl The Journt.
De 81. Petersburg. semiomcial, says.
The aggressive and provocative at
utud- thai Greece maintains with such
deplorable obsanacy conNelS the pow
ers to blockade the gulf Of Athens.
Greece, by keeping Colonel Vassos i'm
Crete. is exposing the Cretans to all the
Disadvantages Of a blockade there. She
illustrates the restoration of peace. She
prevents the powers from learning the
real wishes Of the inhabitants OF Crete,
which can only be asked by the powers
after the removal Of the influence of an
interested pressure.
The reports Of the consuls in Crete
and of the admirals of the international
fleets show the utter impossiblity at the
present moment of communicating di-
rectly with the Cretans, who are sub
jected to the overwhelming influence Of
the Greek detachment in the island and
kept back in places inaccessible to Eu-
ropean negotiators.
Colonel Vassos has practically de-
clared war against the powers. More
over. certain eXtravagant and habitual
fomentors Of disorder Historically advo-
cate a declaration of war by Greece
against Turkey on the 9th Of April or
commences.
we refuse to believe that any such
extraordinary act Of folly win be COM
mitted. but in the event Of IT happening
Greece viii certainly have to endure the
most serious consequences.
III Greece wishes war at any price, she
can count on the support Of no one,
whatever the result may be Of con-
hict so wantonly provoked. The pow
ers will never consent to the aggressors
deriving the slightest advantage from
victory in such a struggle.
After the powers have exhausted all
possible means at their disposal 10
spare Greece the sufferngs she has
drawn upon herself, they are not bound
to disturb themselves further. Their
complete agreement Is the surest guar
antee Of the final victory of order. rignt
and fairness and the best pledge for
the maintenance Of the general peace
Of Europe even in the event Of partial
disturbances created by Greece. which
the powers will know how to localize
and If necessary to suppress.
Would Have Us Defy the Powers.
London. April 5.-Referring to an al
legation made in a letter to the Times
llal lnG DOMNlH nave AAb AAHA III ~ RAoNAN"
ade Athens to foreign ships when war
with Greece has not been declared,
the London Chronicle repeats its adj
vice to American shipowners to ig-
more the blockade.
let the friends of Greece arrange
with ships carrying the American flag, "
Il says, ito defy both the Cretan and
the Athenian blockade. and let US see
what the powers viii do when they
are confronted with a power one OF
the most powerful in the world. which
they can not bully with impunity. The
state department in Washington has
reserved its right to say, as it has al
ways said before, that against its flag
in time OF peace such a blockade is
nothing but an act of piracy.
Insurance rates on an American
steamer which would boldly carry food
10 Crete or ordinary merchandise 90
Athens should not, so long as law is
law. be high. Let the blockade be le-
fed. and let these crowned lawbreak-
ers be faced with the consequences Of
their own contempt for any law but
that Of all ruffians-the law of force.
America owes civilization a debt Tor
her proceedings over the arbitration
treaty. Here she has a chance to stand
for freedom and right, and we shall be
much surprised if the new president
would not gladly take it,