The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-02-21
THE TROUBLE
ABOUT over.
Lord Salisbury Became Alarmed at
Public Indignation.
GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE AND
ITALY REFUSED TO SUPPORT
THE GERMAN EMPEROR IN HIS
PLAN TO BLOCKADE GREEK
PoRTS-POPULAR OPINION IN
THESE COUNTRIES ENTIRELY
WITH GREECE IN HER DESIRE.
TO CONTROL CRETE.

london, Feb. 20. Cable copyright. -
The situation in the East ut length
grows less obscure. There is Il dcatlock
between the great powers regarding thu
policy TO he pursued towards Greece.
This deadlock need not disturb the
friends of Greeks and Cretans. 1t makes
for righteousness. 1t hal its origin i'm
the new force which entered into the sit.
uation lust six days ago and which now
dominates it completely. The domestic
events OF these few days are few and
simple.
The first acts of war by Greece against
Turkey called forth the unanimous pro.
tests of six mowers King George replied
Ill il message of virtual defiance. The
German emperor was so angercd by this
answer that he cut of diplomatic rela-
tions with Athens and invited the powers
to unite in IL blockade of Greek ports.
Great Britain, France and Italy, how
ever, refuse to support the kaiser and all
for the same reason. Public opinion in
each country is almost unanimously on
the side OF the Greeks and CrctanS
This is the new force which controls
the situation and which Lord Salisbury.
NJ llanoteauN and the Marquis du Ru..
DIM dare not disregard. One, and per-
noyed and embarrassed by this new elc-
ment in the problem NJ. Hanoteaux es.
pecially. if he dared would advocate
drastic measures against Greece to COM
pei her to retire from Crete. If he has the
temcrity to do so in the chamber Of dcpu.
ties on Monday he will become II private
citizen on Tuesday
Public opinion in three nations of liu.
rope where public opinion reigus has sud-
denly declared II virtue superior to that
of its rulers. 1t has defeated and demon.
allied diplomacy ! was about to add
that it had destroyed that hideous moral
iniqaity known as The concert of k.u
rope. 1t Is more correct To say it has
compelled diplomacy to recognize the
comm Oh principles of humanity
IL is impossible To overlook the fact,
now clearly revealed, that even Lord sal
ishury took warning only Just i'm time.
There is no longer any doubt that the
british naval officers acted strictly nc.
coriiing to their Instructions in threaten.
ing to use force against the Greek war.
ships ii they attacked Turkish vessels
bringing achievements The outbreak
OF popular Indignation came so uuicklv
in this country that the government i'm
alarm tried to cvade the responsibility in
parliament There was also an instant
change of policy, Lord Salisbury notify.
ing the powers TWO days later that Eng
land would not consent to any plan which
contemplated the return of Crete To any
forms of Turkish control
Italy to day even goes further and
officially authorized the statement that
the powers will never constitute them
selves guardians Of Turkey The Ger
man emperor stands almost alone in I'm.
enviable prominence as the advocate of Il
policy which is revolving to every natural
impulse. He even went SO far yesterday
as TO notify the powers that he would
not consent TO any settlement of the
Cretan question which did not first COM
pei the evacuation of the island of Greece
Kaiser William has done many stupid,
laundering things III diplomatic affairs
during the past two years. but never
anything which aroused such disgust as
this among his own subjects and
throughout Europe 1t is difficult, if
not Impossible, to harmonic his posi-
ton. Hence the deadlock
RussiaS attitude continues to he n
mystery and Austria's is not clear. Rus
STA. however, realizes fully that it IS inn
possible for her ally, France, or for Eng.
land TO defy public opinion when it has
made It's decree so absolute a. that rc.
corded this week. There is no doubt,
therefore, shat it will be the German en-
peror who will back down if harmony is
not observed.
The positions of Greece now seems inn
pregnablc morally 1t would he The
higheso political folly for the powers to
try to coercc her, even if every scnti.
mental impulse did not condemn it.
She could and probably would under
circumstances set the Balkans in II blaze.
The issue OF peace or war for Europe
would be in hcI hands.
IL is supposed to be the supreme object
of each government to preserve peace.
They would hardly he so stupid, then, as
TO leave the decision To the little king
dom which has so much to gain and 50
little to lose by war.
The reports grow more and more en-
phatic to the effect that IL revolution in
Macedonia is inevitable and that it is
close at hand. There is every incentive,
therefore, to settle the Cretan question