Birmingham state herald., 1897-03-07

ton )-Thefe is no doubt that Europe is badly frightened. The present war scare is the worst she has experienced since twenty-five years ago. Every country fears 1t Is about to be dragged into a con flict which will stain the sea and bathe the contenent in blood. Everywhere, except in Greece, the prospect is looked upon with dread, if not horror, and both public and official minds are willing to make great sacrifices in order to escape the threatened calamity. Such is admit ted as the situation at the present mo- ment, and 1t cannot fail to impress alien observers as one of vast absurdity.
 The whole continent is trembling in fear of disaster which can only be in- voked by its own voluntary act. The powers of Europe are shrieking denun- ciations of Greece because that country is going to throw into the arena a golden apple which they cannot refrain from fighting tooth and toe nail to possess themselves of. That is precisely what is happening.
 If Greece, driven to it by the powers, declares war against Turkey tomorrow they must all join in the scramble for the Ottoman prize, and Greece, forsooth, will be to blame because they are unable to restrain themselves. There is for tunately large section of public opinion in this country and in France and Italy also which puts the responsibility where 1t belongs. This section of public opin- ion is accused by Lord Salisbury's sup porters of imperilling the peace of Flu rope by encouraging the Greeks. It fs really this section of the public in the three countries named which is going to prevent war when the crisis reaches its climax. The supporters of Greece in England, France and Italy and Germany fr hn f1f.aor rnG into war which has only piece of the Ottoman empire for a prize. The liberal party in this country, from Sir William Vernon Harcourt down, have been de- claring their emphatic protest this week agaisst Lord Salisbury and Balfour's repeated assertion that great war Is ir- evitable if the eastern question is forced to a settlement. That is the question that is being asked in this country by those who refused to be stamped by the government alarmists' warning. It Is a question which many of the supporters of Lord Salisbury are also asking, and it Is this idea which prevents the existing war scare from developing into a panic. It should be pointed out again that the gloomy forebodings which are demoral- izing the. entire world are cultivated by the governments of the six great powers. In no other way could they hold public opinion in check and gain its unwilling consent to the policy which has been adopted towards Greece Fin the interests of peace" As a matter of fact the situ- ation is not really so desperate as is gen. erally believed, I do not deny that there is danger of war and that things will proba bly, become worse before they improve. Greece will undoubtedly refuse to obey the ultimatum of the powers. Many believe that before replying and realize her position in Crete by declaring war against Turkey It does not follow that the six powers, if they fail to pre- vent that war will forthwith spring at each others threats. If they do 1t will be their own affairs and the responsibility will also be theirs.
 Among the wise things which Lord Salisbury said at the dinner to Ambassa- dor Bayard Tuesday was an allusion tt the fact that public opinion was rapidly becoming stronger and more dominant 1T constitutional countries. He might have added that there were never before Sucl developments in this great force as those now in progress in this country and its near neighbors. I have said that there is no war feeling in England. I must modify this by saying that there proba- bly will be within the next few days. Il will be declared against Germany, and it may easily grow into dangerous pro portions. The anti-German sentiment IT England, 1t is hardly an exaggeration te say, is as strong as 1t is in France. II has been growing for years. It is based chiefly upon commercial rivalries, and il almost reached its continuation in the Transvall crisis year ago. It has now been added to by two facts which have just been learned that the joint note tc Greece was changed at the last moment from a. friendly tone to threatening ultimatum by the refusal of Emperol William to otherwise remain in the con cert. This spectacle of Lord Salisbury and other rulers being led by the nose by the German emperor is intensely exas- perating to the British people. Today comes the news of the emperors start ling demand fon s50,000,000 with which to build new warships. This, of course, is directed solely against Great Britain and is already regarded in this country as a coun ter-move in England's equip ment of the flying squadron a year ago
 There seems to be little expectation that8the reichstag will honor the em- peror's demand or that the country will honor it in the election which will prob ably follow the reichstag's refusal En- glishmen, therefore, are all the more in- clined to take the emperor's proposal as a direct affront. Public opinion in this country would not tolerate any further concessions from Lord Salisbury to the German emperor's obduracy in order to maintain the concert of the powers. nor indeed, would that of France Greek sympathy in the latter country is be- ing greatly strengthened by the harsh ness of Emperor Williams attitude There is. indeed, some probability thai important political effects may arise from the anti-Gerrnan feeling which is shared by the French and English people A common hatred sometimes makes strong friendship. Nothing would bt more natural than that the growing in