The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-02-28

lIaole Conyright.i
London, Feb. 2i.-The Graeco- Cretan
situation is, in its largest aspect. less
hopeful The announcement of the agree
meht oil the powers for its final settle.
ment WAS, To say the least, premature
There exists ut the present moment seri >
Gus irritation between Russia and Great
Britain, which has provoked the former
power toadoptan attitude tina. car hardly
tie described i'll uIuiluer term than threat
cn'llS. III was discussed ut Il hastily sum
noned meeting of the British cabinet
this afternoon, with what result is, of
course, impossible to saw
"A singular semi-oiticial communication
is published to day from ST. Petersburg,
IN which it is set forth lin the event of
Greece, with blind apprehension of her
own advantage, offering further opposi-.
ton to the well meant advice of Russia
anu OF the powers in alliance with her, Of
creating difficulties, ur in the event OF
her allowing herself TO he encouraged in
her present attitude by self-seekinE
friends, perhaps on the false supposition
OF lick OF Immunity among the great
powers, because one or the other powers
ulu not support it ut the outset the pro
posals OF Russia. who is in perfect agree
ment with Germany and France. Russin
IN such az emergency Is determined upon
her course of action. Conscious of her
unity with France, ard of her absolute
agreement with Germany and also with
Austria even.if isolated powers shoull
not associate themselves in the steps she
is resolved to take. Russia will lie in Il
position ut any rate not to allow The
peace of Europe TO Ic endangered by
events in Clete.'
This is the tone whic'. Russia has not
adopted towards any power Within living
memory. England, OF course, is che
country meant, and the words emploved
suggest some exceedingly grave suspi-
Cons. IL may he, however, that this
lanSuaSe,was used in the interval between
the reception of Lord Salisbury's note,
saying IN elect tia: England would do
nothing in regard To Greece until the fate
OF Crete WAS decided, ami before England
had notified her acceptance of Russia :
proposal Tor solving the difficulty. That
proposal, although agreed to in principle
by the six powers, will not be enforced
IN the form interpreted by Lord Sails
bury in the house of lords on Thursday.
Neither England nor Italy nor France
will fire IL gun to drive the Greeks from
Crete in order tha, the island may be de-
livercd to the Turkish troops for police"
purposes. Public opinion in ali three
countries would put an absolute veto
uIOn tliHI proposition.
Every dispatch received from Greece
and Crete makes it perfectly clear that
such an agreement would never he sub
mitted to- In fact, the reply of Greece
to Lord Salisbury's discouragiug speech
Thursday night has hecn II summons Co
two more divisions of reserves TO mob
iliZe. Nothing but absolute autonomy
Tor Crete.will he accepted by public opin
ion in this country. and Lord Salisbury
Is fully aware of this fact by this time
His unfortunate allusion to the use of
Turkish troops as police in Crete has id-
lied much to the popular Indignation
Public anger is slow to kindle in Eng
land. Cause and effect in this. as in all
things else are separated by wider in
terval than III almost any other country
Public opinion is fully aroused now. 1t
did lot need another of William Wat.
sons lyrics and series of Gladstone notes
To inilame it.
No news has yet been received of the
reception of the note or uitmatum from
the powers to Greece. but it lis generally
expected that il will he sent to day Its
terms and the number of signatures it
has will signify much. There is no real
reason, however. for thinking the Green
government will change it's attitude or
It's purpose i'll response to II demand on
the Ines OF Lord SalisbIry's speech. All
accounts agree that it is not within the
power.of the king or government Of Greece
to change its policy at snch bidding.
An Englishman who passed through
Salonica at the beginning IF this week
writes that nobody seeing the Turkish
recruits arriving there would suppose
they would be able to make much of II
fight against the well-fed and we'll
clothed Greek soldiers The newly moh
lliZed Redifs. in particular, who have
been called from their homes tor the
third time within twelve months. are
ragged, hungry-looking and depressed
Many of them have served since the be.
ginning of last year in Armenia and
Crete. but they have not received IL single
plaStrc OF the pay due them, and are not
rontInuad m, r,ur,i, ,,..ra