New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-21
PRICE FIVE CENTS
LIBERALS BACK GREECE.
THE PARTY is DEFINITELY ARRAYE0
AGAINST COERCION.
ENGLISH OPINION AS AFFECTED BY THE rTTEh'
ANCEs OF GLADSTONE. HARCOURT AND KIM
BERLEY-KING GEORGES ALTERNATIVES
THE PEOPLES SORRY SHARE IN THE
COMMUNICATION PARADE-A NEW
EXPERIMENT IN MUNICIPAL
FBY CABLE TO THE TRrsrSE.l
OWNERSHIP.


OWNERSHIP
[BY CABLE TO THE TRrsrSEl
London March 20.-The English press presents
a fine study OF partisanship in It's treatment o.
every branch OF the Greek question. The Lioerai
journals extol Mr.. Gladstone's pamphlet as an
eloquent and unanswerabe argument against
tho coercion of Greece and the maintenance OF
the integrity OF the Ottoman Empire; his union-
st critics describe him as reyengeful Ole sentie-
man. who Is always meddling in foreign di-
plomacy unsettling English opinion and appeal
ing to vulgar sentimentaliy Sir william mar
courts speech Norwich Is hailed ny one por'
ton of the press as a trumpet call 10 the English
conscience and by another as n triumph OF tne
demasogue's art Mr. Balfour is reproached with
having lost his temper when he challenged Sir .
William Harcourt to bring on a vote OF censure
and is also eulogized for the dignity with wh'ch
he forced Orator Puff to throw up the sponge
and retire to his corner. Lord Kimberley Is rep
resented on one side as receiving merited iash-
ing from Lord Salisbury for his indiscret'oh a'
Norwich and by his own partisans as resentihs
a bullying attack and boldly reaf'irmng the new
departure in Liberal diplomacy with regard 20
Turkey.
These amenities OF journalism simply indicate
that the Greek question In England mas peco"e
al issue Of party politics. This may De d s"ou
sien: the Armenian question kept out OF
politics, and nothing was done with IL. Inc
Greek question is In politics. and something may
be done with it. The Liberal party has taken "
up and placed the Government on the defensive
IN ,ustifying what is an unpopular policy. the
Hellenic agitation IN England has passed the
stage where II can be sneered at as newspaper
enterprise designed for the increase or citcuia-
ton, or where cynical dukes and earls can assert
that mass-meetngs are cheap and nasty nov
costing over 80 or fl0 each. Sir William Har-
courts aggressive speech. Mr.. Glddstone's IN
cisive pamphlet and Lord Kimberleys uncom-
promising reply to Lord Salisbury's vehement
attack last night have cleared the air ana broad
| ened the whole field OF discussion. The Liberal
partv is distinctly disassociated from the
policy which It has shared in the past respect
ing Turkey. and is committed to the new idea
that the maintenance Of the integrity OF the
Ottoman Empire is a standing menace 10 the
peace Of Europe.
Where Lord Rosebery is left by Lord Kjmoer'
Iev's repudlation Of the policy based upon the
integrity of Turkey Is delicate question for
! political analysts. Apparently his successor to
| the leadership OF the Liberal Lords has uncon-
sciously read him out OF the party. Kimberley.
| Harcourt and Gladstone certainly have revised
| this week the diplomacy Of the Liberal party.
| and encouraged the Greeks to defy European
! coercive measures since there is clear and un-
mstakable eyiasnse sde IS d2de9 s2
ality and utility Of the concert
| ,,aor,vhIle the Eastern situation IS ciou"eu
| ,,h axaegerations uncertainties, false ru"oiS
| and half truths. The two main iac's are mo-
the blockade Of Crete Will begin to-"o''''
| os,or . ,oercbantman with food supplies mas al
raadv been sunk by a warsh'p ana Una, S
r..,, Army, in Thessaly is ready TO invade Mace
o,r,a any day. The latest rumors, wnich ser'"
TO contradict one another. are tnat iuine''
| acting on Russian advice, VIII declare W." ~
| Greece: that the Greeks VIII lnVade Naeeus
nevt week rather than submit TO the blockade;
that the Greek feet will attack the iurn'on
souadron that the Russian Black sea fleet WIZ
ortar the Rosnorus TO repel the Greek naval
assault: that the concert will speedily bring King
George TO terms: and that 1t cannot survive 'ns
first feeble attempt to coerce the brave ltus
kingdom.
Amid this hedam OF rumors one curious
feature Of the situation is apparent nancy 'ha'
coalitions designed ostensibly for the ma'h'e-
nance of peace tend TO promote the c"an'es "
var The Powers are leagued together Tor the
coercion OF Greece. but II they persist IN 'he
blockade scheme they Will compel hihs "eoie'
70 choose between abdicaton and a declaration
| of
take the first alternative Germany has no inter-
&C., n tho Eastern Question but she is bound by
tho TRIBE Alliance to defend Austria against
ruszian attack in n European war. Italy SYM
natbizes with Greece. but is under obligation TO
urnor, Germany and Austria. France, under
! ,be terms of the Dual Alliance, cannot desert
Russia These five Powers are leasued against
Greece because in III, event OF European war
thev would he drawn into It by their alliances;
vet bv bullying the Greeks they may be taxing
measures which will lead directly TO military
campaign in Macedonia
r,ha onIv Power which Is left at liberty for
independent action Is England. for she has no
rrronean alliance: yet she takes an active part
in the coercion scheme which cannot De anythhs
,r, nrofoundly distasteful TO the Government
o,a noon,s The only alternative Is the expedient
, of England's quitting the concert and isolating
, ber.of from the European council, and
nv the defenders Of the Government that the re-
sult ~ such action would be the withdrawal OF
: the only moderatng influence in Continental
. dinlomacy and the turning over OF the Greeks 10
the tender mercies of military despots'
on the other hand the concert scheme OF coer-
con is open to the fatal objection OF being utterly
impracticable The Cretan chiefs are already
, refusing 20 accept autonomy; Colonel Nassos Is
intrenched In the mountains where he csnnot be
! disodged without battle; the ihsurseh's a'e
driving the Mussulmans into the -FOUR coass
K towns. where European marines must protect
: them: and King George is rapidly being dragged
r into
With situation so perpexing and harassine
as this 1t is not strange that Lord SALISBURY ano
Mr. Balfour have violently. almost petuiahus'
attacked the Liberal leaders in both houses tneS
i are sorely In need Of counter-irritants' Inc paS
sage OF the Education bill through the COMMITS
stage is a triumph for Mr.. Balfcur whose '"'.'s.
y have been completely successful S'osu'e -"
:. been ruthlessly applied. out every