Evening star., 1909-08-22
Greece
Weak.

0Teece present, for armies are
ma.L not created in day. Be
sides the new Greek cabi-
net does not possess a majority In the
bule and its first logical act will be to dis-
solve that body and proceed to new eiec-
tions.
There Is something farcical in the situ-
alton of Greece in this Cretan affair
which would be very amucing, but that
it disturbs commerce.
The Temps of the 9th instant contains
leader entitled THE Cretan Problem" The
capable author, from whom no facts
are hid. is undoubtedly possessed of the
secret of the four protective powers. For
the necessities of the ST: uation the Temps
adopts the thesis which OH its face is a
fiction, because the powers have already
announced that they will assure Turkish
authority and resume the status quo that
The affairs of Crete are disquieting. This
situation" adds the Temps, ''is the fault
neither of Greece nor of Turkey. The
Cretans only are responsible for an ag-
gravation of which there is no justifica-
ton
And the Temps proceeds on this chord
to develop it's argument against poor
Crete, which becomes from this time on
the scapegoat of the hidden policy OF the
four protective powers Once upon a
time 1t was Turkey which involuntarily
was given that role. "Tete de Turc"-head
Of a Turk-was formerly familiar eX-
preston for one whom every one ac-
cused. Henceforth Crete must assume
this ungrateful part.
* x
The Temps refers to the scrupulous
care of the protective powers to fulfill
the engagements assumed
Good two years ago toward Crete.
-. The recent event, the ORR
H'n' entail crisis. the manifest i'm
possibility to impose upon Turkey con-
tinued sacrifices-all this has decided the
protective powers that they would main-
tain their contingents in Crete for the
present.
The Cretans fulfilled their promise to
be good, and hence the powers were led
to believe that this blissful condition
would continue, so the protective powers
departed. The naughty Cretans. wonder.
full to relate. chose that moment to hoist
indignant Temps. TO disavow more open
ly Turkish sovereignty-to signify with
more impertinence the dismissal OF their
benevolent tutors who merited more re-
pect on the part Of their pupils"
Turkeys precautionary action was tog1-
cal. Turkey on more than one occasion
had manifested her determinati ton to
maintain her indisputable right over
Crete. Turkey expressed the desire to
obtain port in Crete which might serve
her as a basis for her military fleet. It
was with great trouble the powers made
her understand that the autonomy which
had been accorded Crete could not be
diminished
Crete interpreted this decision as au-
thority to permit to settle the question
by a unilateral act already mentioned.
This was inadmissible. 1t was fncon-
ceivable that the peace OF the orient
should be at the mercy OF Crete. II re,
mained to recall to Crete, by firm and
measured act. the fact that Europe Is
not under her orders.
The Temps recalls that Crete had mer-
tied the sympathies OF the powers when
under the despotism of the old Turks she
was submitted to regime of blood. Now
things had changed, the Young Turks
had inaugurated normal regime which
was acceptable, and which may be made
durable where property ana existence is
guaranteed and where prosperity IS re-
vived. "A flag more or less VIII change
nothing In such a regime.
The Cretan manifestation is sentimental,
and, according to the Temps, such
manifestation on the
Sentimental departure Of the troops
~o.;f..4.<;., assumes all the ap-
MdulIGSLdtkOus
pearance Of bravado
and a chairenge, and is absolutely insult
ing to the powers. 1t Is not a question
today of saving human life. II is aues-
ton 10 know if a population, which owes
everything 10 Europe, may be permitted
to refuse the counsel of Europe
1t is a question of resisting or yield
ing to Crete's pretensions which would
take no heed of treaties nor the ger
eral interests OF peace. which would do
ernments without which Crete could
not stand alone. The Temps, in con-
clusion, portrays Greece AS having to
pay for the faults committed by Crete.
Greece had been prudent and correct
because She was aware OF the grave
dangers she ran in acting otherwise.
1t was a singular kind Of patriotic
hellenism which consisted in exposing
Greece to a Turkish aggression
note in the Berliner Lokalanzeiger
under the title of Danger of War in
the Orient begets the suspicion that
Germany has been backing Young Tur-
key to make Cretan annexation a casus
belli.
The protective powers. which have
undeniably encouraged both Greece and
Crete to regard annexation as the Sc
quence of their occupation, suddenly
changed front and have recognized
Turkish authority over Crete perma-
nently by Il naval demonstration. RE-
placement of Germany in the objections
OF the Young Turks is the only con-
struction which may be placed upon the
abandonment of Crete by tho protective
powers.
CHI. CHAILLE-LONG.