New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-28
Overtures Following Sale
to Greece Embarass
Administration.
FEAR WAR WOULD
BE MADE CERTAIN
Naval Experts, with Japan II
Mind, Not Disposed to Part
with More Vessels.

Washington, June 27. Turkey Is II
the market for ships Of the Amedes.
navy. and there is good reason to b.
lieye that negotiations have been
initiated. or are about to be. Tor q,
sale Of certain American ships 20 .ha.
country. Turkey seeks TO buy vat.
ships to Offset the impending acquisi.
ton by Greece Of the American battle.
ships Idaho and Mississippi.
It is apparent that the administra.
tion faces some embarrassment in The
matter. One Of the prime reasons for
selling the Idaho and Mississippi n
Greece was alleged to be that thsii
scouisition would work for peace, max
inc It impossible for Turkey 70 declare
war against Greece, as the government
at Athens, asserted before this govern.
ment that Turkey intended doing. Sine,
then however, the Greek goyernmeat
has called out the naval reserves. Tits
action. following a hostile threa.
against Turkey on the part Of The
Greek Premier in open parliament tive
or three weeks ago, makes 10 appear
that all the belligerency IN the situa.
t;on Ia not on the side of Turkey
Balance of Naval Power.
If Turkey now acquires naval vessels
ocraI in strength to those which
Greece is about TO purchase the bal.
snce of naval power will be with the
TURKS and war will be certain, accord
i,g ~ tho Greeks. The Turkish An
bssegdor here. however, has represent.
cd IN the government that Greece a.
ready has greater naval strength and
tba+ tho Idaho and the Mississippi give
10 her enough more 70 make it posi-
bic for her to declare war. lie mas
said 10 the President thGt- turkey LOOKS
for declaration Of war as soon as
Greece gets the two Americans SHIP
n the United States should refuse %
cell 10 Turkey the Porte will undoubi.
cdlv then make vehement protest
against the sale 10 Greece Of the Idaho
and the Mississippi, a TRANSACTION |A.eA
has not been cOnsummated. 30 Iat
Tho Turkish Ambassador has lodged no
formal protest with this government
AGAINST. the proposed sale, but ne IN
6oubtedly stands ready 70 do so.
Turkey will likely contend t2at sne
looks upon the sale Of the two SHIPS 20
Greece as an unfriendly action, 10 '.'T
of the cordial relations which eNls, BE-
tween Turkey and the United States.
An Unusual Situation.
The situation is undoubtedly one o.
The most interesting and unusual y
which the government Of the United
States has become involved many
years. The administration was eE,hl-
siastic in support of the propose. 70
sell the Idaho and the AissIsspD.
mainly for the money that would be
obtained for two ships when yer,
more or less sobsolete and with |nua
2 new Dreadnought might be construct
ed. but with the statement that z
would assure peace in the Near East
as a side issue.
Ii is not at all certain that the naval
exBerts will consider it advisable "a
dispose of more vessels at this tine
The japanese question is Co the lor'
once more. and while the administration
is confident that there can be no wal
with Japan, it is compelled, nevertheless
not TO relax in the slightest degree 10
aattention to the country's deterces