The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-03-11
4GREECE'S REPLY 70 POWERS
1T IS CONCILIATORY IN TONE
FERVENT APPEAL IN BE-
HALF OF CRETE.
MASSAcRES ARE BOUND 70 RECUR
If Greek Troops Are Withdrawn and
Cretans Left to the Fanatic Mos
lens 1t Will Be the Same
Old Story.

L. -
Athens, March S.-(Copyrighted, 1897
by the Associated Press 1.-The cores
pendent of the Associated Press learns
that the reply of Greece to the powers
was finally drafted this morning and
was sent to the foreign ambassadors this
afternoon. The cabinet sat all last night
in council, the ministers not returning to
their homes until after daybreak today.
The reply, after acknowledging the re-
ceipt of the identical notes .Of the pow
ers, and recognizing the extreme yravi-
ty of the possible results bound up in the
situation, proceeds as follows:
THE government Ct his majesty, King
George having examined with the clos
est attention the points which the
great powers named. believes it duty
10 submit to the powers its own opinion
of the measures proposed by them, an
opinion which is the outcome of long eX-
perience and prolonged knowledge of the
Cretan situation.
Moved profoundly by the sentiments
: animating the powers, and their solicit
Jude for the general peace, the Greek
government will not fail i'll its duty, be-
cause Greece also has an ardent desire
to contribute to the maintenance of peace
and to preserve from complete ruin the
islanders, so long and so sorely tried and
SO often decimatcd.
I'VE believe that the powers PROPOSE
tions will suffer the same fate as the
many preceding ones which have hereto
fore proved unsuccessful in Crete"
The reply then refers to the previous
. .
if not settled now the situation will
terminate in a state of revolution.
1t conc udes:
IF left alone the Cretans would be
decimated by Turkish fanaticism. In
such an event our responsibility would be
great. We ask the great powers to O.
store to Crete what she had at the en-
reimbursement of the other Greek PROV
inces. and to lead her back to Greece, to
whom she has properly. belonged since
Capo Istrais was president.
In the presence of recent scenes OF
massacre and pillage, the burning of
Canea and the frightful anguish of the
Cretans, exposed to and menaced by the
bouudless fury of Mussulmans, our
whole country was torn with remorse for
its own responsibility. 1t assumed to
persuade the Cretans last year to lay
down their arms, but the misfortunes
which 1OllOWeu lOIDluS us dEdlli W WI
dertake such Il task. Even had we at
tempted it our voice would only have
been Il feeble echo and would not have
reached the Cretan people.
"As autonomy would not fulfill the
noble aims of the powers, it is obvious
what must be the situation of the unhap-
DIV Cretans from today until the estab-
iishment of autonomy. If the powers
PERSIST in their decision in the face of for
IN I,n nj n
ity. as well as in the interest OF Crete,
the pacification of which is the unique
object of solicitude of the powers. we
do not hesitate to appeal to them on the
subject of another measure proposed by
them. namely. the recall of our troops.
Indeed, if the presence of the foreign
suuadrons and the conviction mat Ihey
prevent the landing of the Turkish troops
are deemed to render unnecessary the
nresence of the Greek fleet in Cretan
waters. the presence of the Greek army
in Crete is nevertheless shown to he de-
sirable from a sentiment of humanity
and in the interest of definite restoration
of order.
"Moreover. if our own troops, which
are worthy the fullest confidence of the
powers. had received a mandate to nacl-
fy the island their desires and intentions
would have been promptly received with
der being restored. it would be possible
to ascertain the freely expressed desire OF
the Cretans for decision as to their
fate. The massacres which have regu-
larry required in Crete for many decades
not only profoundly agitated the HELEN,
ic people, but interrupt also all social
activity and gravely disturb our domestic
economy and the finances of the state.
Even if we admit the possibility of for
rn inc nt l.
ty with the Crctans in religion, race and
blood, we could not in silence allow the
great powers to assume that the Greek
state is able to resist such shocks.
wherefore. we appeal to the generous
sentiments animating the powers, and
We beg them to permit the Cretan people
themselves to declare how they desire
to he governed. -
lSignCD ''SAOUIES.
The publication of the note was greet
ed with great excitement, and on all sides
were heated discussions as to what 1t
would lead to.
The warship Hydra has already been
recalled from Cretan waters, leaving
only two small Greek vessels in that
quarter. This is regarded as a virtual
Welding to the powers so far as the Meet
is concerned. 1t is held. however, that
the powers can not now shut the doors
aSalnSt 1urtner negotiations. ne cap-
met. it is understood, was unanimous as
to the terms of the reply. the text of
which. it is said, was the personal work
of the king
The proposal to place the Greek forces
under foreign commander indicates the
Willingness of the government to. recog-
ME the recently formed gendarmie as a
force to assist the foreign marines in re-
storing order.
REPORT NOT CONFIRMED.