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.