The herald., 1897-02-14
IN THE QUEENS D0M|N|ONS
Intense Anxiety Over the East.
ern Question
ONLY A SPARK IS NEEDED
Te Set the Whole Of Europe 10
Blaze
rbs pr,seut nemsnt ls the Host Critical
Since the Powers lntervened In
Turkish Affairs
A..oc,.t.d Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
LONDON, Feb. 13.-(Copyright, 1871
All Europe Is watching the Cretan
fireworks display with the greatest ahx-
,etv as a spark may set all Europe
ablaze. Everybody, is agreed that the
present moment is the most cf'.ics'
since the powers interviewed IN turkish
affairs. The daring action OF Greece IN
sending Prince George with torpeoo
Aot,,,a to Crete has caused tremendous
autter in the European cabinets. Tele-
vraphic dispatches on the subject have
been flying across the continent De-
tween the different governments ana
their emissaries. Unusual activity pre-
walls at the British foreign office. Tele-
Grams have arrived in rapid succession,
and the marquis of Salisbury yesterday
had a special interview with the Rus-
sian. Austrian and German amoassa-
dors. The Importance of these CONFER
ences can be estimated by the fact that
Count Won Hatzfeldt, the German am
bassador. went to the foreign office, al
though he was in sucn feeble health
that he was unable to meet tie ex-
Empress Frederick on her arrival To-Day.
and had to be carried upstairs at the
foreign office.
The Greek note to the powers justify
ing the attitude of Greece towards crete
is couched in such strong terms as to De
regarded in olncial circles here as al
most tantamount to declaration OF
war against Turkey.
The note accused the Turkish troops
of siding with the Mussulmans; said
that the Turkish reinforcements mean;
a renewal of atrocities against the
Cretan Christian, and concluded with
saying that 1t was therefore incumbent
upon Greece to prevent. at all cost, the
landing of reinforcements, not only out
Of sympathy with, but as duty to the
Greek population, which has just SOL
emnly declared its determination to ac-
cept nothing but union with the mother
land"
This menacing attitude toward Tur-
key is quite volteface upon the part OF
King George, who has hitherto shown 4
moderate pacific disposition. and there
is some speculation as to the reason
thereof The opinion is expressed that
Greece must be able to count upon the
support Of some influential persons and
the tolerance of others, and indications
point to Russia as her backer 1t is
contended that a close relationship be-
tween families must count for something
in the present crisis, and people are
asking what passed at the conference
between the czar and King George of
Greece at Copenhagen last autumn.
King George also had a conference with
Count Goluchow when in Vienna, and
st is stated that the latter advised
Greece to wait patiently and in the fu-
ture she might reap the fruit which was
not yet ripe. Apparently King George,
pushed by the national feeling in
Greece. has been trying to expedite
matters by bold stroke.
According to advices from Athens the
excitement in Greece was so great that
the king either had to yield or pack his
trunk and leave the country forever. 1t
is stated that King George has admitted
that he had no choice between dethrone-
ment and putting himself at the head
of the popular movement. and 1t is
thought in some quarters that the the
atrical send-off of his son, Prince
George, with the torpedo flotilla, was
only intended for effect and as means
of appeasing the clamor of the popu-
lace. But dispatches today show that
the passions of the Greeks are thor
oughly aroused. Throughout the coun-
try meetings are being held and sub
scriptions for Cretans are being raised.
Dispatches from the European cap
itals indicate sympathy with Greece,
but the governments fear that If Greece
is allowed to annex Crete an uprising
in the Balkans will occur, and efforts
will be made there to throw off the
Turkish yoke. All the Balkan states
except Roumania are ready to rise.
There are comparatively few arms
there, although a quantity has been
imported recently. Nevertheless, this
will not prevent rising if Greece is in
volved in war with Turkey. and the
whole peninsula will speedily be con-
verted into huge cockpit. This is the
reason the powers now oppose Greece's
annexing Crete until the whole Turkish
question is agreed upon by the powers.
Several newspapers are already dis
cussing the question Of the division Of
the spoils, and French diplomat,
Comte de Chaubory, today in an inter
view says he thinks the collapse of
Turkey is now inevitable. Russia. he
adds, will probably take Armenia
France will take Syria and England re-
tain Egypt. Many of the continental
newspapers accuse Great Britain of In
citing Greece, but they adduce little
proof to establish the allegation. The
English papers generally sympat thize
with the Cretans and urge the govern
ment not to prevent the annexation of
Crete by Greece. According to the
oPSSsoeOA liz iaoilulS VI SALISBURY Qdr6
not, in view Of the feeling In Great
Britain, join in coerc!ng Greece. This
Journal says: I'VE do not believe there
Is any danger of it. But in any case
the British people will not enter upon
course of crime, even to preserve the
European concert or European peace.
Horror of the sultan has gone into their
very souls.
Papers publish list of foreign war
ships In Cretan waters. England has
four battleships and two cruisers there.
France has four cruisers. Russia has a
battleship and cruisAr Austria has a
cruiser and Greece has battleship. a
corvette. cruiser and six torpedo boats.
The papers also publish a comparison
between the Turkish and Greek fleets.
1t Is announced from Gibraltar that
the British channel squadron is expect
ed there next week.
The convocation Of the University of
Oxford has authorized the vice chan
cellor to nominate bishops at the uni
versity this year, and the Archbishop of
York has invited the colonial and Amer
ican bishops attending the Lambeth
conference to visit York minister, or ca
thedral and accept his hospitality.
The South African inquiry commits
sion at its first meeting just held grant
ed the applications Of Messrs. Cecil
Rhodes. Alfred Best and T,eoua ri phil