The Portland daily press., 1897-04-05
EYER FIXED ON CRETE.
All the Powers in Dread Of a General
War

Gossip of the Day in the British Capital
The Situation in South Africa.
{Copyright 1897, by the Associated Press. J
London, April at is Just month
since the so-oalled concert of the Powers
threatened the blockade of Crete which
has proved Intellectual. The anarchy in
Crete and the confusion In European
councils are worse than before. The re-
plies of the parliamentary secretary for
the fereisn Office, Mr.. George N. Cuzzon
to inquiries on the subject show it to be
by nc. means certain that all the Powers
have actually agreed to blockade the
Greek ports. The latest news indicates
this course. The fact is that the Powers
distrusS Of each other reduces them to
impotence. Not any of them wants a
general war, nobody having any idea of
what its result would be. But, 1T is be-
lievsd that Russia and Germany and per-
hapsss austria want localized war hop.
ing that Turkey, being vi Glorious, will
lay Greece at the mercy of European do
tation. In the meantime, the two COM
batants, as well as the Powers, hesitate to
incur the odium of commencing the con-
fiiot Ger,nany's attitude in setting on
the other Powers, while herself abstain
ing from any active share In the strug-
gle is universally condemned as being
disgraceful diplomatic betrayal. Rus
STA Is evidently playing her own game
and is willing to send to Crete whatever
troops the other Powers suggest. She
hores that the blockade of Greece will in
cite the Greeks to hostile acts on the
frontier which seems to, be extremely
probable, as the King of Greece stoutly
maintains his original determination and
the premier, M. Delyaniss, declares that
nothing will prevent war if the Power s
persist in refusing their consent tc the
union Of Crete to Greece. Russia is con-
hdent that Greece will lose the first bat
tie and that Bulgaria and Servia will
not move except at Kussia's orders.
The admirals CT the foreign fleets in
Cretap waters continue daily asking for
definite instructions from their respective
governments. They have urgently adj
vised the appointment of q European gov
ernor. 1t is a remarkable fact that Col.
Vassos and the Greeks inspire the great
est sympathy among all the foreign cor
respondents and the futile measures OF
the Powers, are being daily denounced.
Mr.. Gladstone has written another
letter on Cretan affairs. With reference
to the concert of Europe, he says 1t re-
Gals the ways OF Castlereagh and Meter
nioh, when Greece was unable to buy
armamsnts in Europe on credit, while
Turkey had no difficulty whatever in
SO doing. 1t il understood that Russia
the island Of Crete to Greece. by threat
to OCCUPY Anatolia if the nsgotiat ions
are persisted In.
In connection with the warllke aspects
of Europe and South Africa It 10 si6nifl-
cantay announced that LORD WolS6ley,
the British commander-in-ohief. accom-
panied by his abide camp will shortly
that fortress. The details of President
Kruger's claims against Great Britain
for indemnity as result of the Trans
veal raids are now definitely known. In
addition to the sum Of e877, 9S3 ($8, $3.50, :
665) which is said to be the expense
which the raid entailed, including i'm
mense compensation to the railway and
the Transvaal demands 210, 600, 900 Gas,
600. 000) for moral and intellectual dam
age. This appears AS q separate and ad-
ditionHl item. Before the parliamentary
commission 1t is expected that on Tues
day next CHARLES Leonard. one of tho
members of the Johannesburg reform
committee, will present an exhaustive
statement dealing with the grievances Of
the Utlanders of the Transvaal
The radical members of parliament
have unearthed the fact that the present
Gar escaped taxation to e10, 600 $3.50,
000) in death duties on money lying In
the Bank of England when his father
died. This oomplaisanos upon the part
of the government towards Russia will
be warmly deprecated.
The government has refused to allow
stands 90 be erected in the pnblic parks
for the Queens diamond Jubilee process
sion. An offer Of 270, QUO (S850, 000) was
made for permission to erect a stand In
the Green park facing Picadilly.
AT the last ballot of the Reform club
every candidate bearing German name
was black ballpd. as q demonstration
against Emperor William.
Dr.. Steihitz, the we'll known chess play
er threatens to bring action for damaEs Is
against the United States consul at Mos
cow and others concerned in his recent
detention in an asylum there.
A large and influential committee of
London managers have arranged bene-
fit matinee at the Gaiety theatre on
Thursday, April 90, for the widow of the
late Charles Harris, brother Of Sir Au-
gustus Harris.
MGR. DEL VAL CALLS MEETING.