The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-03-20
Conservatives Essay to Reply to
His Cretan Letter.
SAY HE ONCE FAVORED FORCE
But This at Time When Conditions
Were Vastly Differeut-Salisbu
Said to Have Withheld His Con.
sent TO the Blockade Of Greek
Ports by the Powers.

| of the suffering Armenians, protesting
againstthe attitude of Great Britain, Russia.
Germany, France. Austria, and Italy
toward Greece. and arraigning the govern
ment of Lord Salisbury for the position
they have assumed, that of being practi-
caliy tails TO the kites OF Russia and Ger
many, has not excited the sensation which
it was expected the appearance of the
pamphlet would create.
The Conservative newspapers, which are
bound by party affiliations to support Lord
4 Salisbury, comment at length on the PAM
phlet. They point out, losing sight OF the
fact that the conditions now and at the
time 10 which they refer are very differ
ent; that Mr.. Gladstone government took
the initiative in the blockade of Greece in
1886 wien that Kingdom claimed a sec
ton OF Macedonia To balance the acquisi-
ton Of Eastern Roumelia by Bulgaria, this
coercion on the part of the powers ceasing
only upon the submission OF Greece after
some desperate fighting upon the frontier
of Turkey, in which several hundreds OF
Greeks were killed and hundreds taken
| prisoners by the Turks
The Liberal papers take heart from the
| ringing words of their old leader to attack
the policy Of the government more vigpr-
ously than before. They recall that last
year when Lord Rosebery was leader of the
Liberals he declared that everything that
could be done ought to be done to put an
end to the detestable system OF government
| in Turkey.
The plain statement made yesterday by
\ the Earl OF Kimberley, the present Liberal
leader in the House of Lords, explaining the
speech he made at the meeting OF the Ma
tional Liberal Federation at Norwich,
should set at rest all doubt concerning the
| present policy OF the Liberal party and the
| proof that Mr.. Gladstone is in full accord
with the present Liberal leaders. The earl
said in effect that what he intended To
convey in his speech was that the Liberal
party would depart entirely fromthe policy
il had pursued in the past in connection
with Turkey, and would maintain that the
existence of the Ottoman Empire was a
standing menace to the peace of Europe.
Rcgardingt he present st iuation a represen-
tative OF the United Associated Presses has
obtained information from nofficial source
that Lord Salisbury has not yet given his
consent to blockading Of Greece. He has
declined to give a definite decision in the
matter until it is seen what the effect will
Toe OF the measures that have been adopted
in regard to Crete. The foreign office is
confident that developments in the near
future wal aneliorate the crisis
The trend OF Russo-German- Austrian Dir
plomacy has been during the current Week
as vigorously in favor of the severest
repressions of Greece as at any period OF
this long prolonged crisis. But for the
opposition OF Great Britain, supported by
France and Italy, war blockade, not u
pacific blockade of all the Greek coast,
you!dhave been formed andthe Greek fleet
in Cretan and Egean waters might Lave
been treated as the allied fleets dealt
with the Turks at NavaTino The European
concert" al ways shaky, would / ave
collapsed and Great Britain have } ad
to face humiliation or been forced to enter
upon q European war single-han.!ed, or
with one doubtful ally.
The danger OF European war Is by no
means vet averted. The car appears to
have thrown over Greece and the just de-
mands of Greece altogether, and to be
willing to allow the Turks to use their
full military strength in crushing the
comparatively feeble army of King George.
The German emperor one of those aims il
to weaken the Russo-F rench entente by
playing Russias game on the Balkan
Peninsula has both melted and supported
the cars policy. The Austrian govern
ment, which opposes any extension of
Greece in any direction, and especially
ward Macedonia, has, though tn king
no initiative. sided with the Kai ser. This |
siumering mess OF diplomacy still gets |
the name of the European concert
II no open rupture occurs, any real con- |
cert obtained will be largely due to one |
potent personal influence-that of the |
queen of England. However the infirn-
ties OF old age may weigh upon her maj-fI
esty, her intellect remains vigorous, andI
her determination to interfere in the great Y
crisis of England's foreign policy has |
been displayed as markedly as ever. The |
principle that the queen "reigns but does |
not govern" has never prevented her |
always weIl-informed opinion having in
fuence with her minister's nor hindered her |
influence being used at European courts |
in moments of international peril. At 1
this iuncture her majesty has been per- /
haps the strongest factor at work for
justice to Greece and peace for Europe.
She has kept in direct personal communion
ton with tie German emperor, and indi-
rectly with the car. These communica
tions will never form matter for blue
book, but their drift is known. The queen
used all her really immense influence to
keep Europe from war, and continues
pleading on behalf of Greece. The Ger
man emperor sulks under her advice, while
the car is said to be more cordially re-
sponsive.
Ever and now the London Globe leads
chorus of alarm in the English press over
an impending war with the TraDsvaal
Unreasonng clamor of this Sort may some
times be traccable to the influence of
the speculative Kaffir ring. At the pres
ent time it is obviously the effect of the
Boer government. Early in the current
month Mr. Chamberlain informed the Pre-
toria government that certain legislat ton
just approved by the Volksraad affecting
British subjects, was a breach Of the Lon
don convention, and could not be tolerated
Mr. Kruger has replied that the London
convention would not be interpreted by
his government as giving British subjects
in the Transvaal any privileges Unac-
corded to other foreigners This was
shrewd answer, but was practically an
evasion OF Mr.. Chamberlain's demand
The latter has, it is reported and believed,
now warned the Transvaal government
that the London conven ton covers the right
OF England to interfere if her citizens or
other foreigners are subjected to violati |
Of common international laws.
The French government is known to be
DESTROYS of joining with the English in |
making representations to Pretoria against
enactments bearing heavily On the mining ,
French shareholders retain |