Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-20
THE POWERS AND THE NEAR EAST

The plot thickens in the drama which
is being enacted in the near east. Turkey
Greece and Crete are
Continuous now absorbing the
ne attention OF the pro-
Performances. tective power
France, Russia. Great Britain and Italy,
to the exclusion OF all else, and the play
proceeds on the boards Of the interna-
tional theater with little prospect of an
immediate conclusion.
A cable from Constantinople dated
February : has all the appearance of an
experimental balloon. 1t declares that the
powers will propose as the best solution
of the present difficulties in the near east
the sale of Crete to Greece by Turkey"
Unfortunately for the protective powers
the proposition is tardy. Had 1t been
advanced In 1905 at the same time that
Bulgaria declared her Independence, and
when the young Turk party was not
yet firmly in the saddle and its finances
limited, there was every chance that
the proposition would have been accepted
Now, such a proposition must be made as
an ultimatum.
In the presence of such a situation
the powers pause. For behind the cur
tain at Constantinople there may be
concealed certain explosives which II ig-
nited might set fire to all Europe.
Greece always fails to act at the proper
moment. On February the cable re-
ported that the Hellenic national as
sembly had been convoked by King
George. On the same day London dis
patch affirmed that if the Cretans sent
delegates to the Greek assembly 1t Won d
be considered by England as a serious
menace to peace in the near east: In
such case international troops would be
ditions under which the troops were
withdrawn was that the Cretans should
take no steps against the sovereignty or
Turkey. To send delegates to the as
sembly at Athens would be breach Of
On February there was a cable from
Athens, manifestly official, which de-
clared that the royal message OF sane
ton to the convocation of a national as
sembly is not likely to be issued until
March. and it is practically certain that
the assembly will not be couvoked before
December. -
The Greek government deemed 1t wise
at the same time to explain its action in
the withdrawal Of several
Diplomatic diplomatic missions in
accordance with the sug-
NAdA6eS' gestions OF the Military
League, which it was maintained was
purely economical.
A dispatch from Malta dated February
was categoric. The British oattleship
Duncan. flagship of Rear Admiral Sir
George Ashley Callaghan, second in COM
mand OF the British Mediterranean fleet.
with the cruisers Lancaster, Minerva and
Barnam and four torpedo boat Destroy
ers, had left Malta for Piraeus. 1t was
stated in explanation that the dispatch
of the British squadron indicated a de-
termination of the interested powers
Great Britain. Russia, France and Italy
to assure strict adherence to the agree
ment under which the international forces
were withdrawn from Crete
The new grand vizir. Haiku Bey, on
assuming Office January "a. in announc-
ated with emphasis that Turkey was
resolved to uphold by all means in its
power the sultan's sovereign rights In
Crete. though 1t was prepared to extend
to the Cretans the largest measure OF au-
tonomy
NJ. Charmes in the Revue de Deux-
Mondes defines thus the situation of
Turkey and Greece: I'VE are" he says.
full Of young sympathy for young Tur-
key and of old sympathy for cid Greece.
but how should we not recognize, unless
we close our eyes to the evidence that
the constitutional institutions. which date
from eighteen months at Constant.nople
and a much longer time at Athens. are
only thin screen which scarcely hides
the reality of an exclusive, absolute and
irresponsible military power?"
The fall OF the grand vizir, Hussein
Hilmi Pacha, at Constantinople surprised
it. Hilmi Pacha acquired the esteem OF
Europe before the revolution Of July,
1908. by the way in which he performed
the difficult functions Of inspector OF re-
forms in Macedonia. His attitude at the
moment Of the revolution had increased
that good opinion In his favor. We know
what took place the morning after the
revolution. Young Turkey was repre-
scented at the grand vizirat by the oldest
men Of the old Turkey, honorable men
and sympathetic, but unfit for the role
OF representing and preparing for the flu
ture
Young Turkey, with the best intentions
and sincerely imbued with the spirit OF
liberty. lacked the firm and steady hand
of Washington. The mr. alton OF Hus-
sein Hilmi Pacha seemed to be a progress
effec ed In the way of gofd sense. Hilmt
Pacha refused to abandon his authority
into the hands Of the committee OF union
and Progress, the military power, and he
resigned.
4
Several weeks ago there was discus
sion In the chamber on the subject OF