The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-08-03
But There Are Yet Many
Points That Remain
to Be Decided.
Premier Salisbury Makes a
Disappointing Statement
to the Lords.
Nomcommittai Assertions in Which
He Hopes for a Happy Solution
of the Problem.

LONDON, ENG. Aug. I'm the House
of Lords to-day Lord Salisbury said that
Thessaly had been assigned to Greece.
The international agreement which gave
the other European powers voice in the
disposal of that territory, he said, had
chiefly caused the delay in the negoti-
atoms of the powers. At present, the
Premier added, the general policy of the
powers was that Thessaly should not re-
vert to Turkey, but security against
further Incursions or provocation was GER
tainly due TO the Sultan, and upon this
ground rectifcation of the Grsco-Turk-
ish frontier was reasonable certainty.
The negotiations, Salisbury said, had
now reached a point at which the Porte
had accepted the strategic line laid down
by the powers, and subject to that under
standing Turkey had agreed to relinquish
Thessaly. The question of indemnity was
a difficult one. Turkey had right to de-
maud and receive indemnity, and if the
money must be found for Greece some
control over the Greek revenues was in
evitable.
AS regarded Crete it would be difficult
to reconcile Christians and Mussulmans,
and he only hoped for happy solution of
the problem.
The statement made by Salisbury disap-
points the hope that an Immediate settle
ment of the Greco Turkish question was
i'm pending. 1t also shows that reports
from Constantinople, even when coming
from most trustworthy sources, must be
accepted guardedly. The Prime Minister
punctiliously avoided committing himself
to single definite statement He even
qualified the statement regarding the
Turkish adoption of a strategic frontier.
his exact words being that he believed
negotiations had now reached point at
which the Porte had accepted the strategic
line laid down by the powers.
He confessed he shared some of the
skepticism previously expressed by Earl
Kimberley, who had said he should not
believe that the Turks intended to evac.
uate Thessaly until he knew positively
that the Moslem troops were moving out
of the country.
Respecting the payment of indemnity,
Lord Salisbury said Turkey was inclined
to insist upon holding certain points in
Thessally until the money was paid, but
he could not say as yet what the decision
of the powers on this point would be.
The question was still a ma tier of contro-
yersy, and marked the precise point to
which territorial negotiations had adj
yanced. Turkey was entitled to indem-
nifty. but there was the difficult question
of German holders of Greek bonds in
whose behalf Germany demanded control
of the Greek finances. He did not think
it was Europe's duty to provide for the
payment of German bondholders, but it
could not be denied that while they wero
unpaid Greece's credit in Europe would
be exceedingly small. If, however the
money must be raised there would have to
be established some sort OF control over
Grecian revenues. This matter had not
advanced very far and there might be con-
siderable delay. He would not say any
thing more definite than that he thought
a possible arrangement was in sight.
Touching upon The Cretan question SAL
isbury declared that there was little use
even in negotiating on that matter until
the main controversy between Greece and
Turkey had been adjusted. The island
was certainly in a dangerous position on
account of the terrible division among the
people owing to their antagonistic creeds.
The powers could only promise not to
abandon Crete until they had done their
utmost to secure peace and equal rights
for the inhabitants.
CONSTANTINoPLE, TURKEY, Aug. O.