The Star. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 1879.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3425, 2 April 1879, Page 2

The Star. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 1879.

In the bosom of England's Imperialist Premier there ia apparently no throb of sympathy for the cause of the hapless Greeks. It will be remembered that at tho Congress of Berlin in consequence of the want of action on the part of the British plenipotentiaries the question of a rectification of the Greek frontier was left in a vague and uncertain state. Nevertheless, through the endeavours of M. Waddington, the representative of France, the Treaty did, to a certain extent, acknowledge the claims of the Greeks to consideration. The Treaty admitted their right to a rectification of frontier and provided for the mediation of the Great Powers in the event of dispute arising. The Treaty itself gave nothing, but it recommended that something Bhould be given and clearly contemplated that its recommendation would be acted upon. In view of these considerations the Signatory Powers are morally bound to assist the Greeks to obtain a satisfactory settlement and the implied undertaking, it must be confessed, seems to bear with heaviest weight upon the Government of Great Britain. In order to pay respect to the recommendations of the Treaty the j Turkish and Greek Governments appointed commissioners to examine into che question of a new frontier line for Greece. One would naturally imagine there could be no real difficulty in the Turkish administration settling the merits of the asked for boundary with a map before them in Constantinople, but Turkish Ministers have long done the most ordinary business in a manner different from that of Ministers in any other part of the world. The Turkish Commissioners, wandering dejectedly over and round about the frontier were in constant communication with the Government at the Porte. Reports, despatches, exchange of views and every conceivable artifice, having apparently no other objeot but wearisome procrastination were continually passing backwards and forwards between the Commissioners, but the progress made was none. Weary months were occupied with no apparent reßalt The Greeks grew impatient at this manifest trifling with their demands, and the Great Powers remonstrated. In reply to their remonstrance, the Porto issued a Oircmlar note, which was a striking specimen of the tortuous policy of an insincere and treacherous Government^ pretending to comply with the engagements it had solemnly entered into, ikd

yet firmly resolved never to yield the smallest strip of border territory to Greece. In this remarkable document the whole question ia opened np ah ovo ; the arguments which the Turks for years past have brought forward in resistance to Greek demands, . are repeated with wearisome iteration ; and it is made clear that some reliance is placed upon British support in refusing to yield to the recommendations of the Treaty. Thus it is asserted that the people resident in Thessaly and Epirus are thoroughly loyal to the Ottoman rule, and have no desire whatever to ally themselves with their own country-/ men. That the outbreaks and risings! which have racked the Provinces almost! incessantly, are in no way due to spon- ■ taneous feeling on the part of the people, but are due to the instigation of the Athens Government. Upon this subject, however, Lord Beaconsfield declared himself fully satisfied. In the protocols of the Berlin Congress he placed distinctly on record the light in which the state of affairs waß regarded by him. "Lord Beaconsfield believes it to be his duty to add that the insurrection in|Bpirus and Theeealy was not fomented by the Greek Government, which on the contrary, in conformity with the advice of Great Britain, applied itself to its repression." But it is not a cession of Thessaly or Epirus, or of Crete that is asked, but simply a rectification of the frontier — an " insufficient" and " imperfect " frontier, which Lord Beaconsfield further declared to be " a danger and a disaster as well for Turkey as for Greece."

It appears now that the game of diplomatic hide and seek, which, the Porte has been playing for some months, has come to a termination, as indeed it was bound to do. The sham efforts could not be kept going for ever. A telegram from Athens, dated March 22, published in our {columns last Tuesday, informs that — '' The Turkish Commissioners have refused the. proposed extension o£ the Greek frontier, and the Grecian Commissioners have returned here. The Greek Government has issued a Circular Note invoking the mediation of the Great Powers." The European Powers are now brought face to face with a difficulty which they must have long foreseen, and it is to the interest of the whole civilised world that the issue raised should be settled on a satisfactory and liberal basis. The language of the Porte in its circular, and the attitude it has at length been driven to assume, clearly disclose that Turkey will never willingly make any concession to Greece. Turkey invited the Great Powers to modify their opinions in reference to Greece, and to endeavour to persuade Greece of the impolicy of pressing her claims further. " Europe," said the Porte, " will never Beck to follow Greece along this dangerous path, and thus run the risk of jeopardising the work of peace." The full extent, therefore, to which the Ottoman Government are prepared to go in opposition to Greek demands is thus indicated. This language can hardly be explained, except upon the hypothesis that full reliance is placed upon England to support Turkey in maintaining her present position. It is certainly not the language of a Power defeated, crushed, and humbled, and is entirely unwarranted by the fallen prestige, ruined influence, and poverty-stricken condition of the Turkish Power. It is scarcely possible to believe that Lord Beaconsfield will, in any way countenance the slightest departure from the position his Government have hitherto taken, reluctantly, it may be, but still — taken. Lord Beaconsfield has himself answered the assertions of the Porte. The British Government were parties to the remonstrance to the Porte which called furth their circular, and now, when Greece invokes the mediation of the Great Powers, calls for effect to be given to their own recommendations, and to interfere under the conditions in the Treaty contemplating such a crisis as has now arisen, there can hardly be a doubt as to the course which the Government will follow. Respect will, no doubt, be felt also for the general feeling of the English people on this subject, for the only point upon which there was reason to believe the conduct of the British Plenipotentiaries at the Congress was not entirely in accord with the sentiments of the British people was this matter of Greece. These considerations will surely compel favourable attention to the claima of the Greeks, and ensure that the slight share of right represented by the demand for the rectification of the north-east frontier of their kingdom will at last be extended to them.