The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-03-18
GREECE THE f1REBRlAD
M. De Bl0witz Discusses the Dan
ger Of a European Conflict.
GREEK DUPLICITY FEARED
Secret Understanding With Russia
Said to Exist-An Appeal to the
Gar VIII Follow If the Powers
Persist in Coercion-why Little
Greece Stands Firm. -.


the noted European correspondent, in a
specia! p arts cable to the World, reviews
at length the Cretan situation, and points
out wherein the menace to European peace
really lies. He says:
Tmeo Danaos IL fear the Creeks.
The thing that has prolonged the Cretan
imbroglio and what may prolong 1T still
| further is that since the iginal entrance
| of the Greeks upon the scene no one has
taken accurate account OF the secret causes
which induced King George TO fling him.
self SO imprudenuy and SO veuturesomely
into the melee. At the outset everyone
supposed il was Russia which might have
encouraged the king, and this rumor was
not without foundation, for il it was not
the car it was the dowager empress, and
such support AS this was important enough
to Justify the audacity and confidence of
the king But it has since become known
that the dowager empress found herself
opposed by the superior will which now
governs Russia. Yet there is general sur
prise at the resistance which the dowager
empress has met and still meets.
Nicholas III is actuated, in the opin-
ion OF all men whose opinion is worth
having, by his loyalty to engagements
taken, by his obligations, by his sense
OF duty, and by the sense OF his rights.
Moreover, as will be seen, it is only
thus that can be explained what We
now behold. Engagements which Rus
STA has taken. according to the most
authoritative sources, is to guarantee
1.-The integrity OF tle Ottoman empire"
Such an engagement or treaty implies
obligations and rights to be defended,
not only by diplomacy-by moral suason
but also by force-by land and sea
power-for which il is to be repaid by
certain compensation, all the more menac-
ing as they are quite unknown.
This treaty, if it were forced TO be
put INTO execution, is an immense danger
for everybody.
Russia itself is not yet ready to real
ize it, and the question arises for her
whether France, if need be, would march
in agreement with her, a point " hiCh at
present has not teen either touched upon
or discussed.
Turkey breads its realization, as it sees
that the treaty, if carried out, would mean
its ruin in Europe. As 70 the apprehension
of the other powers. 1 need not insist, or
it would be inevitably the signal of a gen.
eral conflagration. None, then, of the
great powers desires that Russia shouldbe
obliged TO carry out its engagements with
Turkey or that Turkey should be obliged to
have recourse to these engagements.
A single power may have dreame Of get
ting some advantage from that treaty and
that power is Greece.
1t has done all OF which it was capable
to bring about a war. 1t has invaded a
p TIL
has remained motionless. The powers have
interviewed TO cry out Integrity of the OF
toman Empire a cry uttered by Russia.
1t is at Russia 5 impulse that they notify
Greece Of this intention to maintain the
integrity of the empire. A Greek torpedo
boat fired on a Turkish vessel. II was
casus belli. Turkey made no representation
Had the CaSus belli been recognized there
would have ensued the inevitable realiza-
tion OF the treaty, realization most IN
timely for Russia, disquieung for Turkey,
dangerous to the Franco-RusSian alliance
and a prOvOcation to the rest OF Europe.
Greece is arming on the frontier. She
is putting Turkish patience there TO the
most frightful test, yet Turkey is I'M
eXpectediy patient and Greece seems to be
saying to Europe; "If you do not wish to
give me the carte blanc in Crete / will
let loose the dogs of war against Turkey
and oblige that power TO make the war
general by her appeal to Russia and to
the treaty uniting them"
To all this, as said NJ. HanotauX in the
French Senate, Europe has replied: NO.
not war, with the rupture OF European con-
cert but peace, with that concert intact"
Such, then, is the explanation of what is
now going on. AS for a conclusion, If j
had been asked for it several days ago
] should have been embarrassed; today l
am less so. Something has taken place of
great and painful Importance.
Since then public sentiment In Europe
has greatly changed. Indignation has been
spread abroad. 1t is partly under influence
of these impressions that the French Par
lament has just adopted the policy of CO.
ercion accepted by the French government,
and at the moment of writing coercion has
begun. Europe thinks thereby to oblige
Greece to recall old Col. VaSsos and his
soldiers. | am convinced, therefore, that
Greece will finally yield, but / doubt very
much whether it will do SO as promptly as
is generally supposed.
Col NasSos, L believe, will retire into
the interior of the island and there will
hold out as long as possible. To dislodge
him would require $1,000 men, perhaps
even more, and it will be necessary to
spend $4,000 900 francs. 1 can see no
power which could obtain the consent of
Parliament to such a course. Russia, which
has master untramelled by Parliament,
will not do this, for such an act would be
folly, and Nicholas IL would never pour
int 30 nf
the obstinate Minotaur.
Europe, however, am convinced, will
finally triumph, owing to the danger 1t
runs, a danger the cause of which have
explained, but Col. Eassos can prolong
the danger, and In prolonging it disturb
the rest Of Europe.
S1.25 To Baltimore and Re- S1.25