Evening star., 1897-03-24
ENGLAND WILL NOT TAKE PART.
Opposed to Joining the Proposed
Blockade of Greece.

LONDON, March 24-The Daily Chron-
icle's special correspondent at Athens says
that the Greek government has learned
from fits own official sources that Great
Britain refuses to take part in a blockade
Of Greece, though she has no objection to
such measure taken 10y The other powers.
The government also learns from similar
sources that the admirals of the interna-
tonai fleet in Cretan waters have informed
their respective governments that their po-
sition is no longer tenable. and that they
must receive definite Instructions or be re-
called.
LONDON. March o4-The Times cor
respondent al Paris calls attention this
morning to the article i'm the French con-
stitution which debars the President OF the
French republic from declaring war with
out the assent of parliament. and says:
Europe must be prepared for the with
drawal of Frarce from the European con-
cert in tn. event that the Cretan difficulty
should require more severe measures than
the chamber of deputies will sanction
The correspondent of the Daily Chronicle
at Athens says that on his return from ST.
Petersburg on Monday NJ. Onou the Rus
sian minister TO Greece, had an audience
with King George TO whom he presented
an autograph letter from the dowager
czarina The letter contained no political
communica tion to the king. NJ. Onou then
had an audience with Queen olga, to whom
he presented an autograph letter from the
cZar, containing draft for $1,000 roubles
for the Cretan refugees at Athens. Upon
this incident the correspondent remarks
Thus Russias peculiar diplomacy offers
a cordial grasp with one hand and a buffet
with the other.
The Daily Chronicle prints a rumor that
Lord Salisbury and the cabinet discussed
yesterday the sultan's acceptance of the
proposal of the King OF Greece 10 nomi-
nate Prince George as high commissioner
of Crete
The Chronicle prints also another lobby
rumor to the effect that Great Britain has
declined to be a party TO starving of inno-
cent Cretans in the interior OF the island,
and a report that British ships intend TO
run the blockade, contending that IL is in
defensble under International law, mas
much as neither Turkey nor Greece has
openly declared war.
dispatch TO the Daily Chronicle from
Canea at midnight says the transport ship
Clyde, with the British contingent of oc-
cupying troops, has arrived and will land
them today "wednesday. The proclama-
tfon of blockade consists of seven articles
The first provides that no neutral vessel
nor any vessel belonging to one of the six
powers Shall be allowed TO land stores ex-
cept at ports occupied by the powers.
The second provides that no armed per-
sen and no person of Greek nationality
armed or unarmed, shall De allow we'd - lani
without the authority of the senior naval
officer on the station.
The remaining articles fix the blockade
limits and state the conditions under which
vessels are to be searched. BY the terms
OF the sixth article, Greek ships found with
La the blockade limits will be treated as
hostile vessels. BY the seventh any Greek
torpedo boat observed within the limits of
the blockade will be fired upon as soon As
they come within range of The International
fleet.
The proclamation makes no allusion TO
exports. But as two British ships which
have been loading at Canea have been for
pldden to leave, the presumption is tha.
they also are debaried by the condftiors
OF the blockade. The shippers controlling
these vessels have lodged a formal protest
against the prohibition unjust and arbi-
trary.
dispatch to the Daily Chronicle from
Constantinople says that the Turkish gov
ernment, on hearing that Greece was a,,ouf
to send vessel laden with ammunition 10
the islands of Mitylene and Scio ordered
the Turkish naval commanders cruising in
the archipelago to prevent the landing of
warhke stores by every means In their
power.
The Turkish camp at Elassona is regard
ed as the key to Macedonia and is being
very strongly intrenched. Several officers
who served under Osman Pasha at Pleyna
have been sent there to take command
CONSTANTINOPLE. March 24-Sir Phil
lip Currfe's remonstrance to the porte for
the Tokat massacre is one of the strongest
that has ever been delivered by an ambas-
sador. An extraordinary meeting of the
&C uncil of ministers was held today at the
Yildiz Kiosk; and this evening the porte
has informed the foreign embassies that
the mutessarifr OF Tokat, the prefect of
police and the chief Of the gendarmerie of
the city have all been dismissed.
The mobilization OF the Turkish ironclads
aftef fifteen years OF Imprisonment I'm the
Golden Horn has produced the impression
intended by the sultan. reviving the pride
Of the MOhammedans and mitigating tho
general pessimism.