New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-02
HTOCEtDINT TREECE.

Tho throot of the Powers TO blockade Greece
IS like the cry Of wolff II has been heard so
often that people have come 10 doubt It's earnest
rcss Yet the wolf did come at last. and II may
be that this latest repetition of the timewori
threat means something more than IFS predeccS-
sors meant. If So the situation may M any
moment become critical, for the Greeks are i'll
no mood TO acQuescc in such unlawful ana I'M
Just action of the Powers. They have already
suffered from II more than once, as even short
memories recall. but never with so little cause
as at the present time.
The last pacific blockade" Of Greece before
The present was effected in 1856 leading part
in il being played by Great Britain under the
Prime MiniStership of Mr.. Gladstone. The
trouble arose over Bulgaria. seizure of Eastern
Rumelia The Greek Government held. and
with no little reason and justice That if Bull
earia was to he permitted TO annex a Turkish
province. and especially one containing many
thousands of Greek inhabitants. Greece should
he allowed TO extend her northern borders and
to annex some portion of Epirms and Macedonia,
whose inha bitantS were almost exclusively
Greeks. Preparations were made TO do this by
force if necessary. The Greek army was mobil-
lied. and the people became enthusiastic AZ the
from the Turkish yoke.
That was at the beginning of January. 1856
on January Il the Great Powers sent a collect
i've note 10 Greece calling on her TO dSarm y
week later Greece replied with fiat refusal.
The next week the Powers sent another note,
telling Greece a naval attack by her upon Tur-
key would not be permitted; and they also sent
n strong fleet from the navies of the various
Gu DO ol.S Enn on
with their preparations for war. The Salisbury
Government in England was about TO fall. and
they hoped Mr.. Gladstone would be more favor
able 10 them. Before the end Of January. how
ever, they were sorcly disappointed. Lord Sails
bury went ont and Mr.. Gladstone went ill., but
the attitude of Great Britain toward Greece re-
manned unchanged.
This change Of Ministry occurred only two
days after the sending of the second collective
note. Five days later Greece replied that she
bad q right TO do as she pleased with her fleet.
and would do so. The fleet OF the Powers re-
NAMED at Suda Bay. and the Greek prepara-
tons continued. but the peace was not broken.
Servia and Bulgaria quit their fighting and con-
Guided q treaty of peace. And so two months
and more passed by. with Greece in n fever, but
inactive. and the fleet of the Powers on guard TO
project Inc Illlk. vi NlIll ~, INV h'''
of the Powers proceeded 10 tic Piracus. and
third collective note was presented ordering
Greece TO reduce her army and navy TO a peace
footing 4 week was given for n reply. The
rely was not satisfactory to the Powers. On
May the representatives of the Powers were
recalled from Athens, and three days later. on
Mr. Gladstonc's own initiative. the Greek har-
bors and coast were declared blockaded.
There was much excitement at Athens. The
people clamored for war. The Prime Minister.
Mr. Delyanns. resigned, saying the King was
NJ fault for all the trouble. The King refused
TO accept the resignation. saying Mr.. DclyanniS
was responsible for the siinaiion and must get
the country ont Of il. There We're Il few Skin
miShos on the frontier. in which some hundreds
of men were killed. But on May u the army
was recalled and reduced TO peace footing. So
was the navy. Mr.. Tricoupis became Prime
Minister. And M last, on June :. the blockade
was raised. Such was the story Of that episode,
ono feature Of which the Powers now propose
TO repeat That the outcome of II will be the
same in 1907 that il was in 1856 IS not. however
TO be expected.