The herald., 1897-03-09
GREECE MAKES HER ANSWER
To the Demands of the Six
Powers
Err TONE IS CONCILIATORY
But She Firmly Declines to Abandon
the Cretans
actiy Where Il Did Before the
Ultimatum Was Issued
Associated Press Special wire

Ultimatum Was Issued
Associated Press Special Wire
ATHENS. March Copyright, 1s97).-
The reply of Greece to the identical notes
of the powers insisting upon the with
drawal of Greek troops from Crete and
of the Greek fleet from the Cretan wa
ters. confrms the forecast cabled ex-
clusivefy to the Associated Press.
The correspondent of the Associated
Press learns that the reply of Greece to
morning, and was sent to the foreign
delegations this afternoon.
The cabinet sat up all night in council,
the members not returning to their
homes until after daybreak today.
The reply. after acknowledging the
receipt of the Identical notes Of the pow
ers and recognizing the extreme grav-
fly of possible results bound up in the
situation. proceeds as followe: "The
government Of his majesty. King George.
having examined with the closest atten-
ton the points whereon the great pow
ers base their claims. believes 1t a duty
to submit to the powers its own opinion
of the measures proposed by them
an opinion which Is the outcome of long
experience and profound knowledge Of
the Cretan, sdtuation-and moved pro-
foundly by these sentiments animatiny
the powers and their solicitude for the
general peace Jthe Greek government will
not fail in it's duty. because Greece also
has an ardent desire to contribute to the
maintenance OF peace and to preserys
from complete ruin islands 50 sorely
tried and so OFTEN decimated. We be-.
Meve the proposed autonomy will unfor-
tunately fail to respond to the noble in
tentions which inspired it, and will suf-
fer the same fate as many previous un-
successful experiments in Crete"
The reply refers to the six previous
insurrections IN Crete, and urges tho
unlikeMhood that the present proposals
of the powers will terminate the state Of
revolution.
It continues: "AnaSchy will ravags
the country; fire and sword in the hands
of blind fanaticism will decimate a peo-
pie who do not deserve such a fate. In
the face of such a prospect our respon-
sibility would be enormous II we failed
earnestly to urge the powers to restore
to Crete what she already had at the
time of the enfranchisement of the 9TH
er Greek provinces, and to lead her back
TO Greece, to whom She has properly
belonged since Capo Istrias was presi-
dent.
I'm the presence OF recent scenes of
massacre and pillage. the burning Of
Canea, and the frightful anguish Chris
ttans were exposed to, and menaced by
the bound1ess fury of Mussulmans. our
whole country was torn with remorse
for it's own responsibility. It assumed
last year to persuade the Cretans to lay
down their arms. but the misfortune
which followed forbids US again to un-
dertake such a task Even had we at
tempted It, our voice would have BEEN
only a feeble echo and would not have
reached the Cretan people.
"As autonomy would not fulfill the
noble aim of the powers It is obvious
what must be the situation of the un-
happy islanders from today until the
establishment of autonomy. IF the
powers persevered in their decisions In
the face OF the foregoing views. then In
the name of humanity as well as in the
interests OF Crete, the pacffying Of which
Is the unique object Of the solicitude of
the powers. we do not hesitate to appeal
to them on the subject Of another meas
ure proposed by them. namely. the re-
turn of our troops.
Indeed, If the presence of foreign
squadrons and the conviction that they
prevent landing of Turkish troops are
deemed to render unnecessary the pres
ence Of the Greek fleet in Cretan wa
ters, the presence of the Greek army in
Crete is nevertheless shown to be de-
slrable from sentiments of humanity
and in the interests of definite restora-
ton of order.
Duty forbids US to abandon the Gre
tans to the mercy of Mussulman fanati-
cism and to the Turkish tyranny. which
also deliberately and Intentionally had
shared in the aggressive acts Of the
populace against the Christians More
over, II our own troops which are wor-
thy the fullest confidence of the powers.
had received a mandate to pacify the
island their desires and intentions would
have been promptly received with the
most perfect satisfaction. Then, order
being restored. 1t would be possible to
ascertain the freely expressed desires
of the Cretans for 81 decision as to their
fate. The sorrows which have regular
" required in Crete for many decades
not only profoundly agitate the Hellenic
power but interrupt also the social
activity and gravely. disturb our domes-
tic economy and the finances OF the
state. Even II we admit the possibility
Of forgetting for q single instant our
with the Cretans In religion.
race and blood, we could not in silence
allow the great powers to assume that
the Greek state is able longer to resist
such shocks. Therefore, 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 be governed.
(Sirned) "SCOUZES."
LONDON, March s.-The Times, in an
editorial this morning on the reply of
Greece to the powers, considers that she
advances no convincing argument why
they should not execute their threats Of
coercion.
The Daily News thinks the reply fur
nishes reasonable basis for further
It is stated that Admiral Canevaro
Of the Italian feet, in command Of the
squadrons, proposes as first
step In the advent Of negative reply
from Greece that all the powers should
recall their marines from Athens. Prob
ably 1t will be decided to enforce q
peaceful blockade. applying only to ves-
sells under the Greek flag They would
not be confscated but detained until the
blockade was raised. Much Is hoped In
the way Of solution of the dihlculty from
Lord Salisbury's visit to the queen ana
the influence Of the royal family upon
King George.
TURKISH BRAVERY.
CxNUA March &-yhe Turkieh on