Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-04
CRETAN QUESTION.
THE SITUATION AS BETWEEN
TURKEY AND GREECE.
TWO GREAT FORCES FOR PEACE.
The Financial interests Of Europe
and the Allied Royal Families Of
Head.
Copyright. 1897. by the Sun Printing and
Publishing Association)


there are two potent forces for peace.
which are being used at the present mo-
ment with the most energetic determine
ton. They are the manifold resources
of the financial world, and that personal,
but rarely exercised political power, which
the allied royal families OF England, Den
mark, Russia, and Greece have at their
command. 1t is unnecessary to point out
that financial interests are always on
the side OF peace. There Is good reason
for believing. however. that they have
been especially appealed to in the present
emergency. The pivotal point Of the
financial world is Paris Lord Salisbury's
visit to the French capital last week
was not entirely for the purpose Of con-
suting NJ. Hanotaux, the French For
eign Minister. He saw there certain men
whose silent political and financial in
fuence is most potent in the affairs OF
Europe The French Government is more
susceptible 10 the influence of kings OF
finance than any other 1t is hardly going
too far to say that no French Ministry
dares to seriously oppose these men. If
therefore, Lord Salisbury Is able TO con-
vince such men as the RothschildS that
his policy was the safest in dealing with
Turkey and Greece, the cooperation OF
France would be rs good as secured
The situation must OF course, be despe-
rate. that such an extreme resource should
be appealed to.
The same is true of the Royal family,
nc a, n A
TO be held at Copenhagen. There is little
doubt that King George of Greece will
give great weight to any counsel which
may come from such a source, even II
he does not adopt its suggestion without
hesitation. Nothing In many years mas
so disturbed the Royal family, of which
the King of Denmark is the head, as
the present crisis in the East. All the
members of the household are bound
together by ties of affection which are
peculiarly strong. This has been demon
strated i'm scores of ways within the past
six weeks. The telegram of the Dowager
Empress of Russia to King George at
the outset of the trouble which so puz-
zled the diplomatic world, was undoubt-
eddy genuine. l learned recently, on au-
thority that It Is beyond question. OF an
equally remarkable dispatch sent by
the Princess Of Wales TO Queen Victoria
at the moment when Prince George OF
Greece sailed for Crete in command of
the Greek fleet. II was in these words:
Il beg, / implore you TO use all your
influence to prevent the International
fleet from firing upon the Greek ships"
There is no doubt that the Queen did all
her anxious daughter-in-law asked, and
more. She Is restraining Lord Salisbury
in every possible way from adopting
severe policy toward Greece She sum
moned him to her at Cirniez for this pur-
pose, and if Victoria can prevent 1t there
will be no war in Europe during the year
of her Jubilee.
TURKEY AND GREECE.
The persistency with which the report
that Turkey ana Greece are negotiating
directly has held it's ground despite more
or less authoritative denials. Is almost OF
itself sufficient TO Justify some belief IN
it's accuracy. AS a matter of fact, the
report originated more than fortnight
ago in a statement given out from the
Turkish Embassy here, on the under
standing that the Embassy should not
then be mentioned as its source. 1t may
have been at the time a mere kite flown
for the purpose Of seeing how Europe
would take the idea, but it was soon fol-
lowed by actual negotiations, the exist
this week. Nobody is exactly in a posi-
ton TO say what the Sultan wants, ana
what King George desires and how their
claims and interests can be
reconched. The intentions of the Pow
ers, are, too, wrapped in q good deal of
mystery, but the belief IN the oest-in-
formed quarters here is that If the Porte
and the Athens Government can arrange
a deal which will end the present impos
sible situation in Crete, the Powers will
be only too glad TO acquiesce. The pro-
liability is that the. Sultan is actuated by
the paramount need of money, and
knows as well as anybody that European
hnanciers are poweriess, even if they
were willing, to raise a Turkish loan I'M
I'll the Cretan question is settled and the
armies are withdrawn from the frontiers |
Adyices from Constantinople are to he
effect that the Sultan personally appears
still unembarrassed in regard TO money
which is not surprising, seeing
that he has first call on everything. ano
has no false delicacy IN exercising ii, no
matter what may be the state of IN,
national eXchequer. but the strain of The |
military preparations is beginning 10 tel |
everywhere, and ii is almost incredible !
that it can be endured much longer. The
effect of the crisis generally may b.
gagged by statistics furnished from Sa. |
lonca, whence a British merchant writes |
that all commerce. all business OF any
kind is quite stopped. The customs re- |
ceipts have fallen 50 per cent Nobody
seems 10 have money, and nobody pays
his debts.
There is reason TO believe that Sir |
Edgar Vincent. president of the Ottoman |
Bank has undertaken to place a loan |
of 100000 at quite a reasonable figure |
If only the Sultan will come to term with |
King George. Considering that in regard |
to money matters, the situation on the |
other side is quite as bad, if not worse |
there really ought not to be insuperable |
difficulty in fixing up an arrangement |
soothing TO the self-love OF both parties. |
SITUATION IN CRETE.
AS for the situation In Crete itself no |
thing could be worse or more disgraceful |
10 the six impotencies of Europe. The |
statement from Colonel Vassos. the Greek |
commander is true I'm every par
ticular The policy Of the admirals and |
defensibe Even Lord Ssllsbury's sup
porters in this country are wondering |
how long II will be persisted in. The |
defenders OF the government hav been
driven 10 such eXpedients as explaining |
the frequent bombardment in which the |
International fleet INDUCES as not really |
disastrous. They even have taken the
trouble 10 investigate the subject. and |
declare that the bombardment OF a town |
IS a harmless operation, so far as loss
Of life is concerned.
1t seems to be generally expected that
next Tuesday, the Greek Independence /
Day. will be a critical moment on the
rhessaly and Macedonian frontiers. The
beginning of hostilities rests more with
the Greek societies than King Georges !
Government. Ii an advance Is ordered
BIZ any OF these societies. there is no