The herald., 1897-05-23
GREECE FEARS A COLLAPSE
IF ANY INDEMNITY SHALL BE
INSISTED ON
Collection Is Admitted to Be Impos-
sible Unless the Powers Admin
lister the Greek Finances
Associated Press Special Wire.

fairly entered upon its diplomatic bar
gaining stage, and the negotiations are
expected to last for some time. Many
important differences have to be settled.
and the sultan Of Turkey may be count
ed upon to drag the affair along as much
as possible with the view of bringing
out the latent jealousies of the powers.
His prompt compliance with the cars
request to arrange for an afmistice is
mot attributed to his desire to please the
czar, but it is looked upon as stroke Of
diplomacy intended to excite the resent
ment of some other power, and thus
weaken the concert.
Thus far everything tends to show that
the powers remain in entire agreement
on the question. An European confer
ence is discussed, but 1t is not thought
likely to take place until the prelimi1 ar
les of peace are arranged. The ambassa-
iors at Constantinople, with the dele
gates of Turkey and Greece, may ms ct
to settle upon the treaty of peace. There
is strong feeling in favor of inter-
national control of the Greek finances
without which the payment of iLdemn-
ity to Turkey and the interest on the
Greek debt is declared to be impossible.
The Greeks insist that ifanindemnity if
be imposed upon them there will be a
general collapse and serious internal
trouble will occur. They estimate the
damage done to Thessaly at 25,000,OO0
drachmas land they say another 10000
600 drachmas will be needed to supply
the peasants with food and tools. More
over, they add, the revenue will be
greatly reduced owing to the immense
damage to cultivation throughout the
country, due to the absence of thous-
ands of workers. This years budget will
probably leave a deficit of 60,000,00O
drachmas. The Greek statements, hcw-
ever, are now received with certain
skepticism. 1t is pointed out that by the
admissions of the Greeks 70 per cent of
the interest on the debt, which they
have not paid, has been set aside in
order to have money for the war, and
that consequently Greece is certainly in
q position to continue paying per cent
interest and probably considerably more
If her finances are placed under inter-
national control.
Advices from the scene o, the recent
fghting mention the possibility Of a
serious epidemic of disease when the
heat increases, owing to the purifying
corpses and horses left rotting in every
ditch.
THE PRINCES PRUDENCE
The popular feeling at Athens against
the royal family of Greece Goes not
diminish The stories of the Excessive
prudence" of Crown Prince Constantine
at the front have done much to weaken
the dynasty.
The correspondent of the Eclair Of
Paris at Athens says: THE people are
Intensely violent. Utterances are heard
against the Royalties, and people loud
ly discuss them in the streets. Upon the
boat from ST. Aida to Athens l heard
a popular poet declare in an insulting
voice against the king, and not one of
the 800 passengers, including officers,
lifted a voice in his defense"
The correspondent of the Eclair adds
that an ex-minister said to him: I'VE
ore all republicans, but we have not the
men to found a republic, and the dy-
nasty is profiting by the quarrels of
the parties which are struggling against
each other, not on the programs, but
In questions of personality. The king.
queen and princesses are passing bad
time. When visiting the hospitals the
princesses have been requested not to
enter some of she wards, owing to the
intense excitement of the wounded, and
In other wards the king was greeted
with murmurs, ard often with insult
ing and sarcastic -etorts to his ques-
tions. The crown prince is the most ex-
ecrated. Even his friends admit that
he dare not enter Athens FOR many
months"
THE IRISH QUESTION
The scheme of the government for
the relief of Ireland, as outlined in the
house of commons yesterday by the first
lord of the treasury, Mr.. A. j. Balfour
was sprung as a surprise upon most of
the members, and is the leading topic
of discussion in the political world to-
day. Both parties attribute it TO the
Influence of Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain
the secretary of state for the colonies
and it is admitted by all that it will
help to popularize the government in
ireland, and also among its progressive
supporters in England. On the other
hand, many Liberals believe it will help
them rather than the Unionists, for if
1t is a success it will disarm the opposi-
ton to home rule.
Under the scheme the landlords will
receive about 9250,O00 yearly, and the
tenants will be relieved Of bout G4OO,-
900 Of yearly taxes. 1t is understood
that the project was approved at Thurs
days cabinet council, and before it i;
submitted to parliament it's salient fea-
lures will be communicated in conf.
dence to the Irish leaders. Mr.. Timothy
Healy and a couple of other Irish lead
ers in parliament, in one of the Liberia
newspapers today describe the scheme
as a minor revolution, largely demo
cratic and beneficent, in giving loca
government to Ireland.
A FRENCH FROST
The losses of husbandry in Franc,
from the frost shows the damage t.
crops to be tantamount to a disaster il
fourteen departments. The govern
,nent is asking for d first grant of 5,000
900 francs to aid the farmers and frui
growers.
JUBILEE PLANS
LONDON, May 22-London is alread,
plunged into the Queens Jubilee pre-