The times., 1897-03-14
PRUDENT LORD SALISBURY
Has Guided the Ship of State
Through Troubled Waters.
THE WRONG HEADED KAISER
Many Conservatives Would Approve
War With Russia as a Final
ation-Su Inscriptions for the Low
ing Cup for Bayard.

London, March 13.-Gleaning opinions
tpon Lord Salisbury's Graeco-C Cretan policy
from al possible quarters, ii is discovered
that the balance OF opinion in the lobhies
OF the House OF Commons, IN the leading
London and provincial clubs and in what
diplomatic circles are accessible, is de-
cisively in his favor Even among the
radicals, Who naturally contend that the
English government might have taken a
better way 10 satisfy tie prevalent feeling
for the Greeks, it is admitted that Lord
Salisbury is acting with Infinite tact and
prudence. His own sentiments are known
to be more with Greece than Turkey, and
If all TIE difficulties he has had to meet
and continues 10 en- ncounter Were publicly
known lie would get more credit for states
mansiip which is at once Christian and
polite. His own and Mr.. Curzon's declar-
htiUns III Parliament al necessarily lacking
In respect Of some of the most important
diplomatic developments arising since the
Graeco-Cretan situation became acute.
The Cretau blue book disclosed negotia-
tons only up TO the end of September, and
onmany OF the most vital matters on which
Lord Salisbury and the chiefs OF the
European powers have been at issue since
then there is still no official declaration.
The foreign office has, however per-
mitted some part Of the past and pending
negotiations to tTanspire, which lights
some hidden corners of the European
concert policy, and If the British gov
ernment could publish blue book up to
date, il would he shown that Lord Sails
bury has been endeavoring to get the best
terms for Greece compatible with any DOS
eihle maintenance Of the so-called concert
andthat HE main andmost uncompromising
opponent has been the German emperor
Lord Salisbury desired that the Greek
troops should not be withdIe wn from Crete
till the scheme of autonomy was promul-
gated and partly acted upon, and that the
withdra wal OF the Turkish troops should
be simultaneous. The kaiser took the
initiative in insisting upon the Greek
troops withdfa wing under no pledge as to
the abolition of the Turkish regime or the
retirement Of the sultan's soldiers Lord
Salisbury suggested that the scheme OF
autonomy should include the appointment
OF Greek prince George. or other
as governor Of Crete, with power TO ap-
point his own council TO conduct the ad-
miniStration, and again on the initiative
of Germany the proposal has been prac-
tically rejected.
IL is no longer a secret that the German
Emperor, whether out OF personal SWIM
pathy with despot and contempt for a
constitutional regime or actuated only by
wrongheadcd policy, is with the sultan
He has departed from the straight line
OF diplomatic observance and violated dip
lomatic confidence by personally commu-
nicating to the sultan the various phases
OF the negotiations between the powers
and his own effective intervention on be-
half OF the sultan. In official quarters
here il is believed that il the European
powers can be got to leave Greece to the
tender mercies of the Turk the powers
will form a ring around Greece and let
King Georges small army fight IL out
with the overw helIning forces which the
porte can bring into the field The Liberal
leaders in Parliament are not Ignorant of
these facts and know that they are para
Iyzed in alta cking Lord Salisbury on the
ground that he lacks sympathy with
Greece
If they ventured upon challenging his
policy, tentative and prudent one, by a
vote OF censure, they would fan to get