The San Francisco call., 1897-02-14
THE GREER FIREBRAND.

The determination of the Greeks to pro-
! tect the Cretans from Turkish misrule and
massacre brings Europe close to the verge
OF general war. When the battle is once
berun between the Turks and the Greeks,
it will be almost impossible to confine it
20 those countries. The conditions have
long been such in the Levant that a war
begun anywhere is as likely to spread
throughout the whole region as a fire
started by match in field of dry stub
BILE would be likely to sweep it all before
1t could be extinguished.
That the statesmen of Europe recognize
THIS fact is shown by their eagerness to
prevent the Greeks from taking the action
on which they have decided. 1t is re-
ported that the Emperor of Austria has
warned the King of Greece that il he goes
10 war he will have to bear the brunt
alone. 1t is also reported that the Gar of
Russia has notified the Cretans that thew
must put an end to their insurrections
against Turkish rule and cease to menace
the peace of Europe by their incessart
| disturbances
These warnings from Austria and Rus
sla signify sense OF alarm in the capitals
OF both countries. If either Austria or
Russia saw a way clear to avoid being in
volved in the contest, neither of them
would have been so prompt in their efforts
topreyentit. The great powers OF Europe.
Including Austria and Russia, have been
trying for q year to devise q means of
Keeping the peace in the Levant and pro-
noting reforms in Turkey, and it is clear
that they see in the precipitation of Greece
danger that all their plans will go to
pieces and that they will soon find them
selves forced into hostility with one
another and possibly into actual war.
1t is not possible at this time to foretell
how the great nations will be divided if
the war should spread and become gen.
erai. For some months past Great Britain.
france and Russia have been in alliance on
the Turkish problem. and it is proba BILE
mat In case war came they would en-
deaVor to act on that alliance and take
the same side against any foes who might
arise. tits n OF likely, however, that the alIi-
ance would long continue. The interests of
England and Russia in Turkey are an.
Ia onlstic and so are the interests of Eng
land and France in Egypt. The conflict
OF these Interests would soon put an end
to any diplomatic harmony, and il is al
| togelher likely that when the war actually
began 1t would be found that France and
Russia were on one side and Great Britain
with such allies as she could obtain. on
| the other.
One OF the most serious complications
OF the Eastern question is found in the
TACT that the antagonisms there are not
merely hostilities OF race and commercial
interests, but of religion. The Christians
OF Greece and Armenia aud OF the Otto.
man empire generally belong to the
Greek church and are, therefore, CO.
religionists with the Russians and in hos
tility to the Roman Catholics of France
and Austria. These religious antapo-
nisms. which have little or no weight in
the Western world, are still matters of
profound importance in the East and will
have much to do with the final determin.
alton of the Levantihe problem. Alto
gether the subject is a most complex and
confusing one and it is not to be wondered
at that European statesmen resort to every
means possible to avoid the impending
| conflict.