It was further proposed, if you remember, that the Turkish troops were not to be withdrawn from Thessaly until the last pound had been paid; it was also suggested that a regiment or two at a time should leave, as the debt was paid off, but that Thessaly should be held by the Turks as a guarantee that Greece would pay.

The other Powers, apparently forgetting that they had sent ultimatums to Turkey on this subject, finally agreed that the Turkish troops should stay; but England refused point-blank to listen to any such scheme.

Lord Salisbury, the English Prime Minister, said that whether the war indemnity be paid or not, the Turkish troops must at once leave Thessaly.  He declared firmly that he would permit no other settlement of the question, and that rather than allow the Turks to remain longer on Greek soil, England would break up the concert of the Powers, and take the consequences.

These were very brave words, and highly pleasing to the national pride and spirit of England, but the other Powers were indignant that England should take such a stand.  They pretended to forget the angry despatches which they had sent on this very same subject, and the times they had refused to carry on further negotiations unless the Sultan consented to withdraw from Thessaly, and appeared to think that it was the duty of England to agree with them, no matter how often they changed their minds.

England alone seemed clearly to see that the consent of the Powers to this infamous scheme was only the result of the Sultan’s wearisome delays, which after fourteen weeks of unprofitable haggling and bargaining have made the ambassadors anxious to get the matter settled one way or another, and be rid of the Sultan and his diplomacy.

England stated her reasons for refusing to agree with the other Powers.  She said that the war indemnity demanded by Turkey was so large that Greece could never pay it, and that the Turkish occupation of Thessaly until the debt was settled really meant that Thessaly was to be ceded to Turkey.

As we have said, the English were very pleased over the stand Lord Salisbury had taken.  It seemed to have been done just at the right moment, when the Powers, weary of the delay and anxious to have the Turkish army disbanded, would be ready to threaten Turkey with war if she did not immediately obey them.

This Turkish army is felt to be a very serious menace to Europe.  The Sultan has an enormous number of soldiers now under arms, and moreover this army of his is a victorious army, proud of its strength, and anxious to have fresh opportunity to show its mettle and courage.

An uneasy feeling therefore prevails while this large force is kept under arms, as at any moment the Sultan may take it into his head to try and reconquer the Balkan provinces which he lost in the war with Russia.

Should he attempt such a thing Europe would be bound to go to the aid of the province, and the much-dreaded European war would result.  Until the Turkish army is disbanded the peace of Europe cannot be assured.