The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-04-06

Copyright by the Associated PreSs.)
London, April 3.-It is just a month
since the so-caIIed concert Of the pow
ers Threatened the blockade of Crete,
which has proved quite Intellectual,
being continually evaded, and today
the anarchy in Crete and the confusion
in European councils are worse than
before. The replies of the parliament
ary secretary for the foreign office,
Mr.. CurZon, to inquiries on the subject
show il TO be by no means certain that
all the powers have actually agreed TO
blockade the Greek ports The latest
news indicates that France and Italy
are still averse to this course. The
fact IS that the powers distrust of
each other reduces them to impotence.
None Of them wants a general war, no.
body being able to fOreSee wha- it's
eventual result would be. It is be-
lieved that Russia and Germany and
perhaps Austria want a localized war,
hoping that Turkey, being victorious,
will lay Greece at the mercy of Euro
pean dictatiOn. In the meantime the
two cOmbatants, as we'll as the powers.
hesitate 10 incur the OOlu1n OF COM
mencing the conflict. Germany'S atti-
tude-setting on the other powers,
while herself abstaining from any ac-
tive share in the struggles univer-
sally condemned as being disgrace
full diplomatic betrayal.
Russia is evidently playing her own
game, and while willing to send to
Crete whatever troops the other pow
erS suggest, hopes that the blockade
of Greece will incite the Greeks to
hostile acts on the frontier, something
that seems to be probable, as the king
of Greece stOutly maintains his orig
inai determination and the premier, M
DelyanniS, declares that nothing will
prevent war if the powers persist in re-
fusing their consent to the union of
Crete and Greece. Russia is confident
| that Greece will lose the first battle
and that Bulgaria and Servfa will not
move except at Russia's orders.
Mr.. Gladstone says the attitude of
| the powers recalls the days of Cas-
tlereagh and Metternich, when Greece
was unable to buy armamentS in Eu-
rope on credit, while Turkey had no
| difficulty whatever in doing 50.
In connection with the warlike as,
| poets Of affairs in Europe and in the
| South Africa, it is significantly an
| nounced that Lord Wolselev, the Brit
| ish Communicated chief, accompanied
| for Gibraltar in order to inspect that
| fortress.
The details Of President Kruger's s
| claim against Great Britain for indem-
| nifty as result Of the Transvaal raid
are now definitely known. In addition
| to the sum of G677,933 ($3, ,3S9, $3.50 which
| is said to be the expense which the
| raid entailed, including immense COM
| pensatiOn to the railway and telegraph
| companies, burghers, ETC., the Trans
| vaal demands 81, ,0O0, 900 for moral and
| intellectual damage" This appears az
| a separate and additional item.
| The radical members Of parliament
! have unearthed the fact that the pres
| ent czar escaped taxation amounting t.
| 10000 in death duties on money lying
| in the Bank Of England when his faith
| er died. This cOmplaisance upon the
| part of the government towards Rus
sia will be warmly deprecated.
| The government has refused to allow
| stands to be erected in the public parks
| for the queens diamond jubilee pro-
| cession. An offer Of 10000 was made
| for permission to erect stand in the
| Green park, facing Piccadilly.
| AT the last ballot of the Reform Club
every candidate bearing a German
name was blackballed as demonstra-
| tiOn against Emperor William.
1t is reported that the jubilee peer
ages will include the grandson Mr.
| Gladstone.
The statement that President Faur(
will visit England ior the jubilee is
| denied.