New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-21
GREECE AGAINST EUROPE.
HER DISREGARD FOR THE FEELINGS
OF THE GREAT POWERS.
ENGLISH LIBERAL SYMPATHY FOR CRETE-cAsr
ING DEFIANCE AT THE observation-disclosures
IS NOT SUCH A HERO. AFTER ALL-sEN-
AroR woLcoTT TALKS LARGELY.
BUT VAGUELY ABOUT THE SIC
CESS OF HIS BIMETALLrc
s.MySSJoH

BUT VAGUELY. ABOUT THE sCc-
CESS OF HIS BIMETALLrc
MISSION"
rBY CABLE TRIBUNEl
London, Feb 20.-European diplomacy ceases
to be a harmless game OF blind mans buff when
a pistol shot is suddenly fired In the centre Of
the room. Greece. the spoiled child Of Europe.
has interrupted the game, and the Powers are
now aware that they have been gambollng over
a powder magazine The habit Of lethargy has
become a second nature, and the Powers In the
Cretan crisis have concentrated their energies
upon prolonging the concert OF inaction. They
have induced the Sultan not to reinforce the
Turkish garrisons In Crete, but to leave them
at liberty to do his police work; they have raised
six flags at Ca1ea and have landed small force
of marines crying Hands OFF, both TO Turks
and Greeks. A force Of 1000 Greeks under
Colonel Vassos has already landed without re-
sistance from the European squadron, and this
army cannot be expelled. since 1t is now re-
organizing the civil administration Of the island.
The Powers, having failed to prevent the Greek
occupation of Crete. are now attempting to pro-
hibit the dispatch OF further achievements. and
are stopping transports and threatening to
blockade the Piraeus.
Meanwhile, the Sultan, after mobzing on
paper a fleet which cannot float is concentrat-
ing the Turkish Army in Macedonia for
campaign on the mainland. and King George has
called out the reserves is accepting the help OF
revolutionary volunteers and Is sending every
regiment into Thessaly The Powers are act
ing together, but find 1t impossible to hunt
with the hounds and run with the hare The
Eastern Question is apparently passing out
Of their control. The Greeks lectured
Tba nd COnSerya-
tive journals for their contumacy obstinacy
and recklessness. They are evidently the Jingoes
of the Near East, who are inspired with gener-
Gus and chivarous impulses for people in dis
tress, and are lacking in reverence for the Euro
pean concert Of inaction, under which Turkeys
appalling crimes in Armenia and Asia Minor
have been licensed and condoned They have
gone to the rescue Of Crete, just as Americans
took up the cause of Venezuela even at the risk
of involving the Anglo Saxon family In war.
Such conduct is not understood by the Con-
sentative censors in England, but is condemned
as jngoish, thoughtless and highly reprehensible.
1t arouses sympathy among Liberals and plain
people: Mr.. Gladstone and THE Chronicle" are
already warning the Government that the Eng
lish fleet must not be allowed TO fire upon the
Greek ships, and that the Sultan is an outlaw,
whose battles cannot be fought by English SAIL
ors and marines There Is evidence that the
Liberal leaders will offer united opposition to
the policy of blockadng Crete and coercing
Greece and there signs of popular agitation
more powerful than the il-dIrected Armenian
movement.
What is apparent Is that the Greeks have res
cued Crete from the oppressive rule OF the
Turks and it is not probable that the English
people will consent to have the work Of de-
-,,t-
to the Sultan to be governed by methods OF
assassination. No majority is large enough to
render secure the position of the Government
which support so wicked and abominable
policy as that AS for the trend of Continental
opinion it Is most difficult to forecast 1t; France
and Italy are friendly to the Greek cause from
purely sentimental reasons but are waiting for
Russia to reveal her policy; Germany and Aus
tria are the strongest opponents of Greek ambi-
ton, and are the real advocates OF the block
ade Of the Piraeus. Russia remains as in
scrutable as the Sphinx. Constantinope is her
goal but she may not yet be ready to march.
The Transvaal raid, which lacked the chival-
rous element Of the Greek invasion OF Crete.
has become comedy with farcical scenes.
Nothing could have been more fantastic than
the manner in which the Boer claims against
England for pecunary damages for the raid
were announced in the House of Commons by
Mr.. Chamberlain. Evidently he put up Mr..
Roche to ask the question about the claims. and
then astonshed the House by the insolence and
contempt with which he read the items Of the
bill for material. moral and intellectual dam
ages 1t was defiant reply to the Boer Gov
eminent and was emphasized with accents and
gestures Of scorn and derision. The bill was Of
course. exorbtant. and presented merely
as a basis for compromise. but the premedta-
ton and energy with which the Secretary for
the Colonies insulted the Transvaa whose ter
ritory, after all. was invaded by flibusters in
defiance Of treaty law. were amazing The
House roared over every touch of scornful inn
patience. and treated the BOer claim as the
fictitious dun Of an avaricious tradesman.
II Mr. Chamberlain overacted mis- lines Mr..
Rhodes has underacted his part. His testi-
nony has revealed the Colonial statesman desti.
tute Of "unctuous rectitude" and also singu-
larly deficient in knowledge of detail and less
skilful in fencing with his cross-examiner than
he was expected to be- While affecting an air
OF absolute frankness and being apparently
sensitive only on one point. namely anxiety to
escape the imputation of telling tales out Of
school against his colleagues and accomplices,
he has shown himself a duller man than he
was generally regarded Instead Of facing the
music with the aggressive bearing of an in
flexible Imperiaist he has admitted his full
responsibility for the raid with cynical indif-
ference. and has repeatedly asserted in an
Apologize and penitential spirit that he might
have done wrong. Aside from the single reser.
walton that he attempted to prevent the raid at
the last moment by expedients singulary inef-
fectiye Mr.. Rhodes has made a clean hreast
OF It., not even denying that the famous letter
summoning DR.. jameson to the relief Of the
women and children OF johannesburg was
nearly two months old and telegraphed by mis-
orders from the Cape to The London Times"
with an altered date to misead the English
people.