The San Francisco call., 1897-04-11
WAR is NOT WANTED.
The Six Powers That Have Tried
to Aid Turkey Not anxious
for HostIlitieS.
rcopyrghted 1896 by the New York suq.I

copyrighted 1896 by the New ork SUM-
LONDON, ENG. April 10.-Once more
Europe is in trouble and app9ehe sion by
reason of the event every b.dy has been
sac,;.etiAg fe-4dSys. fhare has been fight
ing between Greek insurgents and the
Turkish troops on the Thessalian frontier,
and timid people are jumping at the con-
clusion that this is the first engagement in
a universal war. Public opinion had TO
swing 10 the opposite extreme the past
few days, and almost every body began to
regard the crisis as nearly at an end. To-
days news seems to have destroyed all
hope of peace in the popular mind.
Pessimi tic views which find public and
private expression in London and dis
patches from the continent this afternoon
are extreme beyond reason. 1t is true
there has been fighting, and it is clear it
was under the auspices of the Greek Ma
tional Society, but war has not been de-
clared, and il il had been it by no means
follows, in spite of the alarmist warnings
OF Salisbury, that war between Greece and
Turkey would involve all the powers.
II is 100 early to judge just what yester-
days engagement portends. 1t may
mean simply certain amount of blood.
the public war fever IN Greece. One
scrambling fight was necessary in 1886 be-
fore Greece was willing to submit to the
powers demand to disarm. On the other
hama maybe an unofficial raid was under
taken in order to provoke the Turks 10
become the technical aggressors in a war
which the Greeks have apparently from
the first desired. In the former case Greece
will speedily disavow the action OF the
, irregulars ard means will be found to
bring he situation to a peaceful issue.
Still in view of the dangerous tension ex-
isiing not only on the frontier but at Con-
stantinople and Athens the proba bIlity OF
a collision between the regular troops is
very strong. II that occurs war can hardly
be avoided
There has been significant change this
week, which alters the whole aspect of the
situation. Official Turkey under the tute-
lage OF the powers has been remarkably
doclle until within the past few days. The
6ultan's policy had been purely defen sive
with regard TO Greece and Moslem passions
throughout the en- rire had been wonder
fully restrained. This is com mpletelv
changed. Turkey is now eager for war
and anxious to assume the aggressive.
Greece, on the other hand, had been
beyond the control OF the powers and con-
stiiuted the sole difficulty in the way of
so. ution OF the problem according 10 their
desires. About week ago, however. Of
hclal Greece began 10 show signs OF be-
coming amenabe 10 the argument and
pressure brought to bear upon her.
The reason of The double change was
only apparent within the last day or two
IL IS now known that federated Europe
has grown more conciIiatory toward King
George The personal efforts of the home
and foreign ministers, the Denmark
royal family and the great power of the
financial world sufficed to modify the
attitude OF Russia IN some degree and to
cause England, France and Italy to take
a more friendly view of the Greek case.
The Sultan was quite shrewd enough TO
recognize and resent the change. He had
rera ded III powers as six allies. and. as a
matter OF fact. they were until the ms
jority were ready to yield to the crucial
Greek point of withdrawal of Turkish
troops from Crete. Even then he might
have yielded but for the latest and great
est folly of the German Emperor.
William protested vehemently against
any concession whatever 10 Greece. in
sisting upon the severest measures of
coercion. Russia herself snubbed Will
liam, notifying him that as his interests
in the East were less than any other
power he could not expect 10 force his
views upon all the others. Then hap
pened what might have been expected
from this hair-brained monarch. who
really is the gre atest incarnate danger TO