New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-28
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
ENGLAND EXPECTS NO WAR
BUT THE POLICY OF GREEK COERCION
IS NOT POPULAR
ENGLISH TRADITIONS SINCE CASyrNG's TIM
VIOLATED BY THE BoMBARDMENT-cEcIk
RHoDEs's EXAMINATION A PARI.IA-
MENTARY FARCE-THE QUEENS
ARRIVAL AND HER FEEBLE
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
FOR THE PUBLIC.
(BY CABLE TO THE TRIBUNE.]

London Feb. 27.-The furry Is ended -
far as the Street is concerned. When the Gov.
eminent began to buy consols fnanciers per-
| ceived at once that the Chancellor OF the Ex.
| chequer did not expect a general European war.
| for otherwise he would have held or until con-
soils were lower. They did not need to wait for
Ministerial statements which proved that the
Powers under the leadership Of England had
decided to coerce the Sultan into doing what no
was willing to do and TO bully the Greeks Into
doing what they were unwilling to do.
| Regarding the prestige of leadership opinions
are divided French writer's speak Of the COM
promise as the vor, VI ,ne new Russian Minister
Of Foreign Affairs; Lord Salisburys enemies de-
scribe his diplomatic makeshift as the tail to
the German Emperors kite; his friends give him
full credit for proposing scheme OF autonomy
for Crete and affect to derive comfort from the
reflection that England exerted a great influence
in the European crisis
The question OF diplomatic copyright is not I'M
portant, since the general result is dscreditable.
and no statesman will ever be likely to claim
exclusive rights the author Of the policy
Taeyrand's good Europeans" have indeed
played an ignoble part and fairly earned Mr..
Gladstones reproach Of filling up the measure OF
their dishonor
They have given the Cretans something they
did not want: the Cretans desired union with
Greece and they get autonomy under Turkish
suzerainty. The Powers do not even give them
this, for autonomy would not have been granted
II the Greeks had not taken up their cause and
invaded the island. Having done this and forced
the solution Of the question, they are pulled py
united Europe. which failed to prevent or punish
the most atrocious prosecutions in the annals OF
Christianity. The least important question IL
whether the autonomy will be real or spurious.
whether 1t will be practical measure OF home
rule or an artifce for proonging Turkish author
ity. 1t cannot be anything more than make
shift, for sooner or later the Greeks will control
the island. The most important question Is
whether the Greeks will retreat from the Island
which they have compelled Europe to emanci-
pate at least partially. from Turkish misrule 1t
is within their power to enkindle a revolt In
Macedonia and set European Turkey on hre, or
they can retire under protest from Crete. and
await the inevitable dissolution Of the Turkish
Empire.
Whatever course they may adopt will reveal
what is now the mystery of European intrigue,
namely, whether Russia secretly instigated the
Greek invasion of Crete. II the Greeks retire In
obedience to the will of Europe, and King George
abdicates in favor Of his it will Indicate that
they acted their responsibility; II they re-
main and stir up strife beyond the frontier. 1t
may be inferred that they have had the moral
support of Russia from the beginning
Signs not lacking that the concert OF tho
Powers is not so hearty and complete as Lord
Salisbury affects to believe and that 1t would not
survive vigorous attempt to Greece.
Whatever may be the immediate results Of a tim
orous concert for intimidation. the policy Of
tla In N
Cynics may ridiculc the modern Greeks as any
thing by race or descent except Hellenes. but they
have shown in the Cretan affair the lberty-lov-
ing virtues Of the classic Greeks. The lombard
ment Of the nsurgent camp. when for two years
not shot was fired in defence of the Armenians.
was a crime against civilization which nobody In
authority has yet succeeded in explaining away.
English traditions from Canning's time vio-
lated by that crimt, and there is a growing feel
ing Of Impotence and contempt for European
concert which is powerless against the Sultan
and effective only against Christians and their
champions.
The pressure Of the fnanciers has been felt
throughout this crisis. especially in Paris. where
an immense mass of Turkish Russian and Span
ish stocks is held by syndicates and the outbreak
OF a European would not only depress
stocks Of all classes. but 1t might lead TO a specu-
lators panic in several; capitals. Nothing is so
timid as capital invested in foreign bonds; the
dread Of a financial crash is one OF the strongest
Influences on the side Of European peace.
The South Africa inquiry has many OF the as
poets Of Parliamentary farce. Mr.. Rhodes Is
chief comedian and is playing his part IN better
form than at first, when he seemed abashed by
the magnitude Of his confession He now enjoys
the privilege OF eating sandwiches and drinking
stout in public and interjects acrid sarcasms in
place Of mustard. With the flippancy OF the chief
witness, the good-natured indulgence OF the ex-
aminers and the frequent outbursts OF laughter
from the audience, the whole procedure lacks dig
nifty. The bout between Mr.. Labouchere and the
witness was less interesting than was expected.
and Mr. Rhodes came out with flying colors. He
did not explain why he had considered German
il iuence meddlesome activity, and a serious
merace to British influence in South Africa, but
he answered brskly and threw in many dramatic
asdes.
Mr.. Blake has questioned him more shrewdly
than anybody else and forced him to admit that
he neglected his duty to the Crown. the Colonial
Office, the High Commissioner the Cape Colony
Cabinet and his associates OF the Chartered
Company. He held confidential relations with
the Imperial and Colonial authorities and his
business associates yet deceived everybody and
was false to every public trust. This is Cecil
Rhodes. stripped of all DISCUSSES; yet the COM
mittee seems anxious not to hurt his feelings and
the audience laughs at his Jokes. while partisans
are not wanting to forecast his triumphant re-
turn to Cape Colony and his resumption Of the
office OF Premier. Whatever else this inquiry,
which promises TO become tedious and wear
out public patience may be- II is not q moral
show 1t exposes the committee and the public
to the charge of levity In dealing with fragrant
offences against morals and to the suspicion
Of hypocrisy in affecting to judge Colonial
leader who is too rich and powerful to be pun
ished
The inquiry has served one useful purpose II
has introduced new method of journalism. Mr.