The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-14
1IcNJSH TIMES FOR TURKEY.
THE CRISIS IN THE EAST EXCEED-
INGLY ACUTE.

-. can he Prevented From Fight
.,e If the Powers Are United in
,,.,or of Preserving the Peace.
Copyright 1897, by the Sun Printing ana
Publishing Association.
1on5on. Feb 1S.-It would be easy TO
,rosent an array of authentic information
-, Athens. Crete and Constantnople, in
s,,,b a way as to indicate that war is in
r,.ifahle and close at hand. There are
eon7e observers in all European capitals,
o,ro.iallv Berlin, who take that view of
tbe situation and are alarmed according
H. Even the stock exchanges, which are
sfrer all the best political barometers IN
l1urone indicated for day or two that
a storm had been impending. There is no
5oiibt that if the future developments de-
mend solely uopn those directly concern
Cd namely the Turks, Greeks and Gre
tans there would be fighting within
week on both sea and land,
Everybody knows, however, that the
rrorress of the quarrel is not within the
control of those actually involved, and
that there will be no blows exchanged un-
less at least one of the great powers is
Wiling that war should come. The solu-
tion of the problem really lies in the an
swer to the question: Has the represen-
tative of one of the six great powers
whispered in the ear of Greece, Now is
YOUR opportunity; go ahead take Crete
and we will keep our hands off?
Some loud voices in France, and many
more in Germany, are accusing England
of them, however, has suggested even
plausible motive which would lead
Great Britain to adopt such a course. On
the other hand, there are overwhelming
reasons why Great Britain should be the
most strenuous of all in suppressing
disturbance until the powers had an op-
pOrtunity of enforcing on the sultan the
scheme of reforms which has just been
formulated. One would more naturally
suspect Germany herself or France of
netting the mischief for the purpose of
discomhting Lord Salisbury, who from
the first has been the leader in urging
harmonious action in dealing with the
There is as a matter of fact, no ade-
quate motive visible, which would lead
any great power to create this fresh and
dangerous complication at moment
when the virtual settlement of the Turk
ish question seems within reach. There
does exist, however, ample and obvious
incentives to induce the crafty and still
potent sultan to seek once more to set
his mentors by the ears by the means of
fresh crisis in Crete. 1t seemed a week
ago mat he was not directly responsible
for the recurrence of the troubles there,
but there have been many indications
since that his subtle cunning instigated
the whole affair. The one luminous and
hopeful feature of the situation is the fact
that thus far the powers have
maintained their unity of atti-
tude. The pugnacious Greeks sent
on their fleet with instructions
10 prevent by force any fresh Turkish
troops from landing in Crete. The powers
had no opportunity to prevent this step,
nut they, promptly and unitedly notified
Greece she would no be permitted to in
Fertere on the island itself, and at the
same time offset a chance collision by
preventing the porte from sending any
more troops The sultans scheme has
therefore, been a failure up to date, and ii
remains 20 be seen what his next move
VIII be- The situation on the whole has
not ltao Teaehed &C an ominous or threatening
stage IN the view Of those persons in
whose judgment ! have the greatest con-
ndenee ana although it contains elements
oi serious danger, as 1t has for more than
eishteen months, il does not justify any
grave Iorebodings with regard to the
peace OF Europe
There is another view Of the crisis In
Crete and Turkey which should not be
lost sight of. These fresh troubles prove
anew mat radical solution of the Turk
iSh pf0blem is absolutely imperative, and
lHat an nope In allowing the Ottoman EN-
lIlF l 70 eAlst IN peace under the full SOW
'Tielsaly OF the present sultan is vain.
me spectator to-day, in a gloomy article
M Moti 9le situation, emphasizes the necessity
" HLustlc measures, and says Europe
WI not permit the sultan and his Asatic
nUIueS 10 threaten its peace every min
u uu'e, ana as Crete cannot be left to itself,
- inust pe handed over to Greece ad in
re.ian. me arrangement to be afterwards
ti a@tiiiueu py a European conference. That
III MI paGlIy the island, as the Mussulmans
h.. SieIeI submit or fly to Asia Minor,
Dut then the gravest of all dangers will
ans Inc Mussulman mob of Constan-
49, ,iIaoP4e may endeavor to take vengeance
Upon me Greeks of the capital. and il is
uouDliui whether Abdul Hamid has either
we power or wish to restrain their fe-
boasy,or ib0Gtly Inc Greeks of Constanunople,
bboWeNer, exceed 100000. They have
oeen arming for months, and II Is ex-
rIIe,ulugly doubtful if they can be summa-
AZ AN, IMPRESSED. They are not like the
perafi'o1,Sa IN IN temper, and If driven to des-
ait9IHOn KIN they would raise a formidable
c cI,m war. which would i'm a few days
a ,o,ip0 tHe powers to occupy Constanti-
been ~ Iie dI precise danger which they have
4 fero, fcH H. qreadlng. Matters may 20 diff
biseadSiy} because the sultan and Few of
gacre ~ s3ts 80 must ne aware that a mas
The erd N fdeeek fGreeks would be the beginning of
n is urdoa,ttoor M ttor ottoman rule but the danger
not he.l,o oiedly great and imminent. IL has
donfarc" Iess Dy the fact that the Mace
n unifv u,tIi Mho afe only waiting an oppor-
strg,,,MIu VIII probably seize this, and by
sta9nl llulsdneous rising will oompei the
. hands IA 9I eastern Europe to show their
. as9ins" "uH decide whether they are for or
sister,S sitS Aslatie rule ia Europe These
b,TSt'v,hentS may be considered sensationaI
Of Abd,ii' ii'AG II 70 be certain that horror
Il into tfq' tbe sdai aamid has entered too deeply
n paiii,VGit Vt european Turkey to allow anv
. eontfalVe to be effectual. and thar n he
. mont,hh ues 10 reign no lull of a week or a
Ger ~ eah IN any degree remove the dan
dark us Is no doubt some basis for this
with tt33,eGast, but IL has 10 be considered
tan viii larger question whether The st,I
of NV W. IN the end submit 10 The demands
before tVNers. which will soon he nlaneJ
4 the M l ,lIl This Is the crucial point ~
HamIH at.loh. and nobody excenf Ahdnl
ent t tro uliihself can decide IL. The nres-
Gree ouoles IN Crete and he actiS,itw 20
'P6ea with IL. consequence COM
peaied 'sa5tIre s5roIe OF the weeks events has an
lishmtn HGhngiy to All decent minded Eng
cies Of Mo care little about The intrlca-
Spectacle neSrnaional politics. IL is the
bold dcfo,ol httle Greece standing i'm in
IN Constatsc,e OF the blood thirsty tyrant
Greater noo,,,,.dluople, against whom no
its hand mHCf mas thus far dared 10 raise
o. ponnio mere Is an undoubted feeling
thrOupbo,1 ., sympathy and adniratloD
eallous di,ti EUROPE which ~ SO strong that
. duty h, t,plonatists VINO consider IA their.
be verg interfere will find IL neceesar ~ 10
admori, careful and considerate in tbetr
own LIONS TO the Greek king oT tboir
as mnSIti utuents Will resent their actior.
sallsbnr as the Greeks themseIves Tord
riogg W lor Instance, would find -
* put ,gIin raging about MIS- ears ~ he
a dsferli3elt N the humiliatinr attifude ~
Greek "aer , or the sultan against rishteons
ielinr Wlath. Public opinion il ltIreadv
such uin IN double loaded lanptia ge that
name w non would coyor with 'sL,,,,o -