BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 17 July 1901, Page 4

BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS.

(Spectator Summary). London, June 8. The Balkans Magazine. The Vienna, correspondent of The Times (who frequently represents official opinion) evidently thinks that disturbances in the Balkans arc quite possible ; and that Russia and Austria, as Count Goluchowski recently hinted, may not be in perfect aciord as to the way to "localise" them. Responsible speakers in the Austrian Parliament are even suggesting that the Army should be increased. The Russian journal, the Novosti, also is agitated, and asks with a certain scorn if Russia is expected to consolidate Austrian influence in the Balkans. It is quite certain that if the two Powers disagree, or are expected to disagree, there will be disturbances, for Macedonia is boiling with well founded hatred of Turkish rule; but one would like to know precisely what the Austrian Cabinet apprehends. Is it a rising in Macedonia, or a revolution in Servia, or the expulsion of Prince Ferdinand from Bulgaria, or some great change at Constantinople? And do the fears clearly entertained at Vienna influence Berlin, leading, among other things, to the unexpectedly decisive withdrawal of Germany from China ? That there is smoke coming up from the Balkans is palpable, but no one in Western Europe seems to know exactly where the fire is. Count Yon Waldersee. The only news from China this week is that there has been a brawl betw> en some French soldiers and British soldiers who were acting asp:lice in Tientsin, and that Count Von Waldersee has actually quitted China for Japan, whence after a brief stay at Kiao-chow he sails fcr Europe. His appointment as Commander-in-Chief produced very little result, for he was obeyed only by his own soldiers, and though he made an excellent Chairman of the Military Council which decided everything, any other well-conditioned officer would have done as well. He did not even succeed in concealing from the Chinese the jealousies which divided the invaders, or in inducing ths generals to accept any concerted plan of action. Marlborough was met by the same dffiiculties, and so in a less degree was Wellington; and the truth seems to be that an international army never can have a head whoso word is final—an almost fatal objection to the "Concert" as an executive, power. The failure, it is fair to add, does not seem to bo attributable to Count Von Waldersee personally, who has many of the qualities which make a first-rate diplomatist. The Retreat from China. M. Delcasse, tho French Minister of Foreign Affairs, on Monday made an optimist speech in the Chamber on China which confirms the report that Europe had decided to retreat. The French troops employed, he says, will speedily be "repatriated." He asserts that "the secret societies"—by which he means the "Boxers"—"are dissolved," an opinion he wiil probably see reason to correct; he is assured of the safety of the Legations, and is now only solicitous about the method of exacting the indemnity. He prefers an international guarantee, which means, of course, that England and America are to provide for any deficits, and will on that ground be rejected by those Powers. He is full, however, of hope, though he is inclined to doubt whether China will become the Eldorado of industry, and suspects that "the movement which impels Europo towards that human ocean swept by passionate hatreds" is at least "precipitate." Nevertheless France must support ilussia in China, "for their interasts are the same," whereat one can fancy that M. do Giers smiles a little sardonically. It may prove an ominous sentence.

The Future of Crete.

Tho Greek members ia the Cretan Chamber have passed unanimously a resolution affirming the necessity of union with Greece, the Mussulmans who objected being ruled out of order. The vote has excited enthusiasm at Athens, and is strongly opposed by Prince George, who, it is reported, has even threatened, if the Powers reject' the Cretan prayer, to resign the High Commissionership, The Powers as yet are obduate, declaring that the Sultan would not agree to resign his suzerainty, and that the convenience of Europe requires that the existing arrangements should'continue. It is difficult to see what Crete would gain from union with Greece ; but so it was to see what the Septtnsular Republic would gain, yet tho islands voted for union, and have never shown any tendency to repent the vote. As tho Cretans are pers'stont, as Prince George is a friend of tho T-ar, and as the Powers do not can; sui hng as Great Britain is kept out of the i.sland we should say the request of tho islunders would ere long be granted. Tho Mussulmans are leaving the islands, but the Turks of Asia Minor do nor, want them, and many are returning to live quietly beneath the rule of the infidel. Fifty millions of them do it in India, and the sky does not fall. ,