The herald., 1897-04-13
THE EUROPEAN CRISIS

The present situation is. to the cas-
nal observer, singular, not to say anom-
alous. for we find Europe divided into
two hostile camps, and all 1or
the sake of a little island called
Crete, which seems of no par
ticular value or interest to anyone.
And yet the cause for this conditlon
of affairs is not difficult of comprehen-
sion to anyone who approaches the mat
ter without undue prejudice, for 1t is
Impossible to be wholly unbiased. Inc
Turk has for the past four centuries
stood at the gateway of Europe anu
Asia, and as a porter he is compara-
lively harmless, but the fear that he
NAV be replaced by powerful guardian
has threatened and still does threaten
the peace of Europe. Russia would
like to seize Constantinople, the result
of which would be to give her an outlet
to the Mediterranean as we'll as TO
strengthen her position as an Asiatic
power. Great Britain is not, perhaps
desirous of acquiring Constantinople'
but regards its possession by weak
power-preferably the Turk-as essen
tial to the maintenance of her Indian
emnire Owing to recent occurrences
within the memory of all, France takes
sides with Russia, for which in return
the republic hopes to regain her former
influence in Egyptian affairs. The re-
vnaining powers of the continent have
been in the habit of consulting their
individual interests and acting accord
;ngly. which fact will sufficiently ac-
count for the frequent change OF attl'
tude on the eastern question.
From the date of the Ottoman con-
ouest in the eighteenth century to the
Greek war of independence the relations
between the Turks and their Christian
subjects in Greece had been strained
and the rebellion that broke out in 1871
continued until the intervention OF the
mowers in 1927, which, together with the
naval battle of Navarino, made the in
dependence of the little peninsula a GER
tainty. The revolt extended to the
islands of the archipelago and the inhab-
itants of Crete, entirely Greek in Ian
ruage and sympathy, and almost wholly
Greek in religion, threw off the ottoman
rule 1t would seem to have been not
only reasonable but natural to add
Crete to Greece in the final adjustment
of the difficulties, but as in the case of
Chios this was not done, and rebellions
have been the inevitable consequence
in both instances. Through the inter-
vention of France, England and Russia,
Crete was in 1880 transferred to the gov
ernment of the viceroy of Egypt. Me.
hemet Ali, only to be restored to Turkey
In 1910.
Here, then, we have a united, inde-
pendent and ambitious country, Greece
seeking to annex the Greekspeakine
communities of the east, and an out
spoken disposition on the part of these
districts to be annexed. Hence the fire.
uuent outbursts against Turkish op-
preston and the open and avowed SYM
pathy of Greece, which is never failing
I'D to the present time it is a contention
between turkey duu 1lteCe lOl lle pOS
session of few provinces, and it would
seem, other things being equal, that the
remaining nations of Europe would BIZ
but slightly interested in the outcome
s of the Cretan episode, for their CONNER
cial interests can only be remotely con
cerned. if at all.
On the other hand, Turkey does moi
seem disposed to cede Crete to Greece
without a struggle, and the relative
status of the two countries might b,
materially changed by the result. Al
appeal 10 arms is possible at any mo
ment. for the Greeks regard themselves
4 rightly or wrongly, as the veritable ant
lexitimate descendants of the Greek,
OF antiquity, and wish to make theil
boundaries commensurate with theii
& olaims Nor is 1t matter of mere chance
that the present crown prince bears thu
nn,ne Of Constantine. in itself witness
81 the glory of the eastern empire, ant
~ enthusiastic feliow-countrymen ca