The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-14
A FRONTIER INCIDENT.

The fighting Getween the Turks and
Greeks has been disavowed by both OF the
governments. as seemed likely at the time.
Tine invasion by body OF irregulars IL
described as mere frontier incident. and
Turkey promises. IL II Is not repeated, 10
refrain from taking official notice. The
difficulty Is that nobody IN Greece can
guarantee that IL will not occur again. and
that very soon. The king and cabinet are
afraid to take any vigorous steps toward
Furnishing the bodies which have dis
obeyed the order against unauthorized
fighting, and the officers on the border are
entirely in sympathy. with the league. even
II they are not acting In concert with It.
In the house OF commons the govern
uent has at last consented to speak with
some freedom. IL leaves very much I'M
said. but what is said Is sufficiently sug-
gestfye. There can be no doubt OF the
earnestness OF England in desiring peace.
The government knows the risk and cost
OF war should II become general at this
time; but IL must yield something to the
sympathy OF the people for the cretans.
Peace in Europe and liberation Of the
cretans is the policy England Is pursu-
ing. But this Is no revelation. IL has
been manifest for long time that peace
WAS desired by the government. 1t would
have been secured. even at the sacrifice of
Crete. II public sentiment had not been
too strong. II was a selfish policy on the
part OF the government. but IL was In the
interests OF England. and the attacks OF
the opposition In parliament have not
been justified.
The frank explanation of the govern
ment as TO the main purpose OF its policy
does nothing to break the silence OF all
parties upon the means to be adopted. and
the avoidance of any aliusion TO Russia
Is so marked az TO attract attention. 1t
IS known all over Europe that IL Russia
could be depended upon. If her protesta-
tions of sincerity were believed. the work
of paehcatlon would be comparatively
easy. Such is the delicaey of the situation
that no responsible minister dare risk the
danger OF affording an excuse to Russia
for taking 9ffense by referring TO this
factor Of uncertainty. On one point only
did the English government let It's expla-
nation refer TO the relation OF other gov
ernments TO the settlement. and that was
when its representative said the govern
ment could only regard the outbreak of
hostilities as calamitous TO Greece
1t Is useless at present to attempt to
convince the Greeks of that The political
body which is dominating the people and
bending the government TO its will says
that anything. even the consequence of
national defeat. would be better than a
continued federation OF the existing con-
ditions. This Is not true. but the temper
OF the people is to accept it as true. 1t
would not be safe for the king to disre-
gard II: and the other governments realize
that TO use force would result IN the up
setting OF the government and revolu-
ton which would bring on more quickly
the calamitles which the friendly powers
are straining every nerve to avert. No
task is more difficult than to save a people
in spite OF itself from a danger whose
magnitude Il falls to appreciate.
There is no doubt that Rudini. the Itai-
tan premier aptly stated a very general
experience when he remarked that a gov
eminent Is often forced to assume very
ungrateful responsibilities. II the powers
believe that Greece is unaolsto cope with
Turkey. intereession Is the salvation OF the
kingdom. but the people. confident in their
own prowess, Will resent the interference.
II Is not patent to the Greeks that things
are not now as they were in 1923 and in
iss2, and that TO fight Turkey. with Rus
six against Greece. Is very different TO
aghtiug Turkey with Russia secretly on
the side Of Greece. as on those otuer oe~
casions Of Hellenic victory.