GREECE AND TURKEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15645, 26 June 1914, Page 6

GREECE AND TURKEY.

The sucocss of the Greek Government in arranging for the purchase of two battleships from the United States must have an important influence on the Balkan situation. Neither Turkey nor Greece has much naval strength, but in this respect they are fairly evenly matched, and the acquisition of the Idaho and Mississippi— were completed in 1908 and will be very serviceable in the JEgean, though they might not count for much in the North Sea— give Greece an advantage. The importance attached by both nations to even small increases in naval strength was indicated only a few days ago by the report that Turkey was making superhuman efforts to accelerate the building of her Dreadnoughts, and was willing to accept them without trials. Should war break out between the two states and Ser via and Bulgaria remain neutral, it will necessarily resolve itself into a maritime struggle, for at no point in- the readjusted map of the Balkans do Turkish and Greek territories touch. A Greek victory at sea would be the prelude to an attempt to force the Dardanelles and bombard Constantinople, while a Turkish victory would leave the long coastline of Greeco open to attack. These considerations were doubtless well weighed in the United States, and the decision to sell the warships to Greece, though according to the letter of diplomacy not an unfriendly act towards Tur-

key, is in spirit an: expression of sympathy with Greece, and a concession of great practical value to her. For the first time the United | States has exercised a direct influence on the Balkans. The decision to sell may be regarded as another personal triumph for Mr. Wilson, to whose influence it is attributed.! The strengthening of the Greek j Navy increases, rather than diirin- J ishes, the chances, of peaec. Tar-.i kev will force the quarrel to the j arbitrament of war only if she has j a reasonable prospect of success, but i Greek national feeling is so inflamed that it will be' satisfied only with the cessation of persecution of Greeks in Turkish territory or war. Under the circumstances the strength of Greece appears to be the best guarantee of peace.