New-York tribune., 1868-11-04
TURKEY,
CONDITION OF THE EMPIRR-ENGLISH POLlCf
IN TURKRY-AFFAIRs IN CRETE.

CONDITION OF THE EMPIRE-ENGLIsH POLICY
IN TURKRY-AFFAIRs IN CRETE
lPRoM oUg SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE
ATHENS Oct. l0.-The Cretan affair Is working out
good in many ramifcations and exposing shams OF
many kinds The utter hollowness of Turkish civh-
igation and good faith has long been evident, the
rottenness of the military and civil administration
is becoming satisfactorily apparent, and all the pres
tgo and moral supremacy of the Porte over its rayah
subjects is lost as appears from the movements pre-
pairing in all directions, while the Ottoman popua-
ton even is becoming alenated from the present
Government by the oppressive and Ineffective admin
stration 1t is evident to all that the Sultan is in
capable Of government the divinity that hedges
him even to the Moslem is uncrowned, and all Stan-
boul recognizes the Ottoman Empire to be in the
hands of a small party of corrupt and incapable IN
triguers who are kept in ther position only by the
jealouses of the Christian powers, or to speak more
exactly by the influence of England.
The population Of the Turkish Empire have no in
terest whatever in the preservation of the Govern
ment which, within the empire. acts only with refer
ence 10 the preservation or the profits of the ring"
and without to preserve the interests OF the British
Empire OF which Turkey is to-day, to all political
and useful purposes. a part. The integrity OF the
sultans dominions is a farce played for the benefit
of the bondholders of the vested rights In India, in
which he is the principal and unconscious farceur.
1t is time il was played out and that the world.
and especially that part of 1t which does not hold
dearly TO heart the pockets of John Bull should I'M
derstand that the interests at issue in the Eastern
affair are those of the oppressed people, bled help
essly 10 the last possible degree oppressed by sys-
tenn Of rigor and barbariy which will never be be-
lieved by those who have not witnessed IT, without
law without justice without foresight even for its
own best interests and those Of English capitalists
and place holders England alone of all civilized
powers is interested in the subugation of Crete and
the prolonged prostraton of Bulgaria and the Turk
Provinces. France and Prussia both anxious TO re-
tain the good will Of England in their winning
struggle, unite in the outcry. and Austria. still
dreaming of empires in the East desires 10 post
pone the breaking up of the Empire, until her hands
are FREQ to take her part
The pressure on the Hellenic Government to induce
it to abandon the Cretan has been applied by
England solely-and the Governments putting their
hands to the screw only sought to please her This
pressure has for some time been intermitted in the
hope that the negotiation with the Cretans them
selves would have put them into the hands of the
English Government; but the war and annexation
party having trumpbed in Crete the Intrigue failed
and now diplomacy comes again to the attack, hoping
to compel Greece TO abandon the insurgents to them
selves. I have good reason for saying that the
Hellenic Government has firmly refused to yield any
further TO pressure if not applied by brute force
comprehending that to abandon Crete would be to
provoke revolution in Greece -,
A little sketch of the efforts made In Crete Will
show the dshonorable character Of the English pol
icy. The rglish agents were set TO work TO elicit
apettion from the Cretans to England, holding out
inducements therefor. The petition was drawn up
by some of the chiefs. but IN vague and noncom-
initial sense, not submitting uncondiuonaly 10 En-
glish arbitration. but even this was repudated Dy
the Assembly in published remonstrance. The pc.
titoners were then informed that the petition had
not sufficient authority and that one must De sent Dy
the Assembly. The Bugsrin Cabinet was dragoone9
into assisting the measure and petition was framed
in Athens aud sent over to be signed The Assembly
refused to sign IL. but on pressure OF number
of the chiefs who had been won oyer py
the Greek Government acting through Iimbrakaki
IL decided TO publish II as the petition OF the che1s
favoring II, bearing the imprimaeur OF the Assem-
bly,. But ~ soon as the nature OF the petitpn-
which was t. place Crete at the discretion or the
English Goyernment-became known 10 tne WAT
party q council was rushed together, and the petit
ton was emascuated by putting IN clause pro-
viding that the national aspirstons should DO re,
spected. Even this would not have been torwaroed
but Tor the menace Of Bulgaria 70 withdraw sup,
plies. But this was not what England wanted, and
Mr. Erskine Minister ut Athens. replied In an ofi-
tier To Costaro. who forwarded the petition.
that the terms proposed were not such as
would induce his Governments to take mp
the affair. Later. seeing that the whole
plot had been defeated by the constancy Of the War
party in Crete Mr. Elliot, ambassador in COnstant
nope, replies that tho petition cannot DO considered
as the English Government does not recognize the
Assembly. After having betrayed the Cretans into
what was hoped to be shown TO be confession OF
weakness, after having demanded by It's agents IL
Crete petltion from the Assembly as motive for
interfering 10 adds insult to injury by Ignoring the
petition and its senders forgetting in the confusion
Of the moment that the petition was not signed by
the Assembly but only attested by 10. But more
perfdyhan this was IN it. The Cretans were privately
assured that England would obtain them an anton
omy, and it was the hope of this that won 30 many
of the chiefs favor the petition. But Mr. Elliot had
been assured peremptoriy that an autonomy would
not be given, and in reality tho English Govern
ment even did not desire it. IL 1t did really desire
H. as presads il has only to say TO Aali Pasha that
II it were not granted the English Government
would withdraw from the Porte all support what
eyes and leave IL to the efforts Of its own policy.
Before such threat. made IN good feih the Porte
would not hold out day. II England were In
earnest about reforms in Turkey she could enforce
as many as she saw lie TO AJAX fo and the best proof
that gand does not ask for them 10 that they are
not made. I - ...s
There is therefore peculiar justice in the way In
which English interests being damaged by tne
Greek blockade running and assistance rendered the
Cretans When the British Minister remonsu ate1
on the announcement given tho Crctans, the heis
Ionic Minister replied by paraphrasng the reply oi
England TO our renlonstranees, at Ebgnsn aSs.sp
ance being rendered rebels in America, ana ,ne
Englsh tro was senced-there WAS not aworu W
bo SAID. .r g..y. -, -, =,
When then. orr PlottOmans talk or Turkish IN
tagrity read therefor EngliSh dominica, ana wren
- Al rff~