The sun., 1897-08-03
PEACE NOT YET SECURE.
SALLsBURT'S SPEECH ON TURKEY rs
NOT VERY HOPEFUL.

Ne Rails 70 say That n single Point for which
the Powers Have Contended Is Actually
Gatned - situation in Crete " stiii Dan
Eerons-Turkish Indemnity IL Not settled.
Special Cable Despatch to TnE sux.
LONDON, Aug. 2.-In tho House OF Lords to-
day Lord Salisbury said that Thessaly had been
assigned TO Greece. The international agreo-
ucnt which gavo tho other European powers a
voice in the disposal Of that territory, he said,
had chiefly caused the delay In the negotiations
OF the powers. At present, tho Premier added,
the general limo OF policy OF tho powers was
that Thossaly should not revert to Turkey, but
security against further incursions or provoca-
tion was certainly due to tho Sultan, and upon
this ground rectiacation OF the GrRco.Turkish
frontier was n reasonable certainty.
The negotiations. Lord Salisbury said, had
now reached a point at which the Porto had
accepted the strategic limo laid down by tho
powers. and, subject to that understanding,
Turkey had agreed to relinQuish Thessaly.
The question OF indemnity he continued, was
difficult one. Turkey had right to demand
and receive indemnity, and II tho money must
be found for Greece somo control over the Greek
revenues was inevitable.
As regarded Crete, 1t would be difficult he
said, to reconcile the Christians and Mussul-
mans, and he only hoped for a happy solution Of
the problem.
Tho statement made by Lord Salisbury disap.
points the hopes that an immediate settlement
OF the GrncoTurkish question was impending.
1t also shows that reports from Constantinople,
even when coming from tho most Trustworthy
sources. must be accepted guardedly.
The Primo Minister punctilously avoided
committing himself to n single definite state
ment. He even qualified the statement regard
ing Turkeys acceptance of the strategic from.
tier, his exact words being that he believed the
negotiations had now reached point at which
the Porte had accepted tho strategic line laid
down by the powers.
He confessed that he shared some of the skep-
hcism previously expressed by the Earl of Kim
berlcy. who had said that he should not believe
that the Turks intended to evacuato Thessaly
until he knew positively that the Mosem troops
were moving out of the country.
Respecting the payment of an indemnity
Lord Salisbury said that Turkey inclined to
insist upon holding certain points in Thessaly
until the money was paid. but ho could not say
as yet what the decision of the powers on this
point would be. The question was still matter
Of controversy. and marked the precise point to
which the territorial negotiations had advanced.
Turkey was entitled TO indemnity, but there
was the difficult question Of the German holders
Of Greek bonds, in whose behalf Germany de-
manded international control Of the Greek
finances. He did not think 1t was Europes duty
to provide for the payment of the German bond
holders, but it could not be denied that while
they were unpaid Greece's credit In Europe
would be exceedingly small.
II, however, the money must be raised there
would have to be established some sort of con.
troll over tho Grecian revenues. This matter had
not advanced very far. and there might be o
very considerable delay. He would not say any
thing more definite than that he thought posi-
BILE arrangement was in sight.
Touching upon the Cretan question. Lord
Salisbury declared that there was little use oven
in negotiating on that matter until the main
controversy between Greece and Turkey had
been adjusted. The island was certainly in q
dangerous position on account of tho terrible
division among the people, owing to their an
tagonistic creeds. The powers could only prom
Use not to abandon Crete until they had done
their utmost to secure peace and equal rights
for the inhabitants.