TURKEY AND GREECE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 308, 7 February 1910, Page 5

TURKEY AND GREECE.

THE POSITION IMPROVING. By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright Athens, February 4. ( The strain between Turkey and Greece is relaxing because Gree'ce has given a formal assurance that no Gre-'k representative from abroad shall take part in the Assembly. ADVICE TO THE CRETANS. CONFORMING TO Till- WISHES OF THE P./.VERS. Received (S, 5 p.m. Athens, February 5. M. Yenezelo, a prominent Cretan, has .returned to Crete from a visit to Greece. H e recommends the Cretans i'j conform to the wishes of the protecting Powers, to whom they owed everything. PLIGHT OF GREECE. DISAPPOINTED AMBITIONS. Tme following brightly-written explanation of recent Greek policy :s from the peii of Mr. William Maxwell: "Last year Europe was in a ferment over the audacity of Bulgaria in proclaiming her independence and stealing a Turkish railway and over the perfidy of Austria in annexing Bosnia-Herze-govina. These were the rocks thrown into the pool, and the waves have not yet subsided. Crete awoke to memories of Athens and clamored to be set free from even nominal association with the Turk. The protecting Powers preached patience, and ended by commanding obedience, and Crete, despite prayers and protests, remains an appanage of the Ottoman Empire. The dismay of the Cretans was not greater than the disappointment of the Greeks, who believed that the Powers were temporising as usual and would in the end join Crete with the Hellenic kingdom. They declare that Greece remained quiet during the Balkan crisis because assurances were given by the Powers that Crete would be liberated. This may or may not be true, for many prophesies were spoken in those days 'hat still await fulfilment. Having told the Cretans and Greeks to be good and having with drawn from Crete Hie forces that kept them in order, the Powers folded their hands and went to sleep. Thev are beginning to rub their eves once more, and fo discover that the trouble has moved from Crete to Greece, where it is ITkely to prove more dangerous. For the Greeks have other grievances. BULGARIA'S EXAMPLE. "In his private capacity no man : s keener or more successful in business than the Greek who drove out the Phoenician—first cousin of the Jew. But in public affairs he shows greater zeal than capacity, and tempers ignorance with insubordination and corruption. Thus it happened that while abroad the Greek waxes proud and prosperous, at home he remains proud and poor. To the consciousness of this he is roused bj periodic misfortunes and disappointments. The failure of national ambitions in Crete and Macedonia had been | aggravated by the Kriumph of Bulgaria, who threw off Turkish allegiance and appropriated a Turkish railwiy without leave of the Powers, and from the position of a despised province of the Sultan stepped into the ranks of nations armed and independent. The Greek feels keenly this triumph of daring and insubordination. His failure he ascribes not to his own weakness of character and want of preparation, but to his rulers, and especially to the King whom he has divested of every shadow of authority and power. "Having surveyed t" position from the slough of despond, the Greek determined to set his house in order, and after his usual manner proceeded to destroy the foundations. If the house noes not tumble about his ears, it will be because Commander Typaldos h.ts 'set the people thinking that revolutions do not necessarily mean reforms. The revolt of U\c army and navy and the subservience of the single Chamber —for Greece alone has not the nrotection of a second Chamber—ought to convince the country—as Lord Salisbury was convinced twelve years ago—that what Greece requires is not so much the 'policy of the sword as of the straitwaistcoat.' ,: