The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-16

est rslzxaston IN the tension: ard Il Is cit-
erult a. pss cis.ancs from TIE sceas q
trouble. and 5stgizv p1rely BY the take
grzvh reports. . see hsw tie outbreak
car be svertsf-
TIE European powers have twice or
ssgee TIE Greeks 70 wsshdrzu her troops
from Crete. aas twice thai order has been
disraxardee - The Creek ministers. act
dsaAnsiy or insossntIy. bat ~sta calm
statement of ne rszsonx which re-tsrei
that course impossible Ire Greek govsrn-
nssnt would rot consen, 70 abandon 4 pee
he Of thssr own race 20 massacre and
outrage az ire hands o. Tire Turks. essa
II al the other Christian powers OF Eu-
rope demand this a. their hands.
Il Is announced fh&. on wsduessay next
shs powers vii formally blockade all the
s-rssan ports. and also certain Greek
ports. rs TIE first step n the policy
OK coercion which Il has been unanimously
resolved TO Impose upon Greece
II tia. coercion taxes the form which u
did In tie earlier stages OF The cifhsHlty-
the aring upon Greek troops or Greek
tranzports--fhis may be the signal Tor tns
nnal breaking CD OF the concert OF the
powers and the dissolution OF some OF the
existing alliances Public opinion 10
most important factor n some Of tie Ea-
ropean states, and wherever thai pubic
opinion Is allowed 20 End open expression.
81 - most decidedly antaSouistic 70 any
forclbIs coercion OF the Greeks on behalf
% the sultan. England. France and Italy
are countries having responsible ministries.
whose tsnare OF ofaos Is dependent upon
their retention Of public confidence, as ex-
pressed through the representatives Of the
people IN their Legislative bodies. France
and Russia are supposed 20 be In close al
lance. Italy in alliance with Germany and
Austria constitutes the drssound- Russia,
Germany and Austria are certain TO ad-
yocats the harshext measures toward
Greece, even 20 the point. as outlined In
the recent dispatches. CT destroying Greece
az a nation. Theoretically France should
follow the lead Of Russia tn this matter;
and Italy should bend TO the viii Of her
allies
Pubic opinion in those countries. how
ever. has to be taken into account; and
under modern conditions responsible
ministry, which has TO choose between
abandoning a foreign alliance or facing
popular condemnation a. home, Is more
than likely 70 follow the popular opinion
England has no allies 70 consult Her
course is dictated by desire 10 protect her
foreign possessions, and to piacate the
commercial interests. represented by the
holders OF Greek and Turkish bonds. who
naturally are strenuously opposed to the
| outbreak OF any war which would further
depreciase these already sufficiently bad
securities and defer still further the pay
ment of tbs long arrears OF back interest.
| But II Is clearly apparent that popular
sympsthy In England Is as strongly With
| the Greeks In the present crisis as IL was
with the Bulgarians just previous to the
| last acknowledgment Of the Turkish en-
| pIre. The Liberal leaders are sedulously
| engaged In fomsnting this feeling. largely
| for political reasons. and there are clear
| Indications that the Salisbury ministry
| would hesitate 20 provoke the popular
elamor which would follow upon Engiand's
| joining In any overt act directed against
Greece. and having for Its object the ulti-
mate retarn OF Crete to the Turkish do
/ mlnions.
While an the powers are thus nomlnally
| united against Greece, It By no means fol-
lows that all would Join in strongly CO.
/ arclye measured Neither is x by any
| means certain that II such coercion was
| applied IL would result, In putting an end
! 20 the threatened hostiities. The Greeks
| are Enthusiastically IN a wariike mood.
| which takes no account OF cost. The answer
OF Greece TO blockade OF her ports may
follow In an immediate attack upon the
| Turkish frontier.