The San Francisco call., 1897-02-16
GREECE Is NOT ALONE.
Some Potoers Willing to See That George
acquires Crete.

Some Potcers Willing to Sec That George
acquires Crete.
NEW YOR X, n. Y, Feb. 16.-A special
cable dispatch from London to the Sun
says: 1t is announced that the powers
have agreed to make a joint occupation OF
Crete with the ultimate object of turning
the island over to Greece.
The belle. is still widespread in Europe
that Greece has not followed the defiant
policy OF the past few days without a
secret assurance from some quarter that
she would not be allowed to suffer for her
apparent foolhardiness
1t is, of course, impossible to Judge of
the probable development of the present
crisis without some knowledge of its secret
inception, for it is incredible that it has
reached its present phase spontaneously.
1t is easy to see how the Sultan might
profit by creating complica tions and diff
culties in the hope OF warding off the dis
ciplinary measures which have been so
long preparing.
1t is by no means clear, however, how
anybody else would benefit by the warlIke
events of the past few days. A highly in-
teresting report bearing upon this point
was discussed to-day in usually we!I-in-
formed circle of London bankers. 1t is to
this effect:
a fortnight ago Lord Salisbury became
fearful that one or two powers, which had
yielded acquiescence to England's pro-
posal that coercive measures be adopted
tosecure genuine reform in the Ottoman
Empire, were beginning to waver in that
policy. There were signs that when the
moment came to use force probably
two of the Continental Governments
would, on one pretext or another, put OBJ
stacles in the way of decisive action.
Lord Salisbury believes firmly, as does
most OF the rest of the world, that moth
ing whatever short of sharp coercion ap-
Piled directed at the Yildiz Kiosk will
secure the establishment of decent and
safe government in Turkey.
a fresh emergency such as the Cretan
crisis would demonstrate pretty conclu-
sively the correctness of this view. At
all events, the powers have agreed to do
what they have not done, namely, to take
some joint action that would show that
the European concert is something more
than the sham II has apparently been for
eighteen months.
1t was not necessary for more than a
hint to this effect to reach the ears of
King George, and the result has been
what the world is now witnessing.
Those who discussed the story could
not altogether discredit it, nor did thew
criticize Lord Salisbury very severely for
the Diplomatic subterfuge thus imputed
to him.
Lord Salisbury's language in the House
OF Lords yesterday regarding the situa-
ton showed no leaning toward Greece,
but he insisted with great vigor on per-
feet harmony among the powers, which is
the only essential thing, as far as Europe
at large is concerned.
The principal point of interest with re-
gard to the latest situation in Crete itself
is in respect to possible collision between
the Greek force which has been landed on
the island and the foreign blueiackets
who are also there.
All reports agree that the war fever in
Greece is increasing in intensity. Con-
stantlnople is, however, the point of
greatest Importance. The probability is
that Greece will get Crete one way or an
other, but what Europe wants to know is
what the Sultan is going 10 do about it.