Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1897-03-13
NOT SATISFIED.
Reply of Greece Does Not Suit
the Powers.
They Threaten an Immediate Block
nde = Vice Consul Ordered to
Leave the Island of Crete
Text of Her Answer.

Berlin, March 0. = The reply of
Greece to the identical note of the pow
ers has been received here, and as was
expected, it is unsatisfactory. In conse
Quence Germany and Russia have sig
nified their approval of an immediate
blockade of the Greek and Cretan
coasts.
London, March 9.-It is announced
here that the French, German and Rus
sian ministers have approved the car
rying out of the threat contained in the
identical note of the powers to blockade
the coasts of Greece in the event of her
refusing to accede to the demand that
she withdraw her troops from Crete and
her fleet from Cretan waters. Their
reason is that although the reply of
Greece gives some hope of a compro-
mise it does not comply with the de-
mand made by the powers.
London, March 9.-The Chronicle
publishes dispatch from Athens giving
the full text of the reply of Greece to
the powers. After brief preamble, the
reply continues:
I'm view of the extraordinary gravity of
the results which will follow, his majesty 8
government considers it to be it's duty to
submit to the powers it's opinion of the
measures decided upon, an opinion which
is the result of long experience and pro-
found acquaintance with the situation in
Crete. Impressed by the sentiments which
animate the powers and their solcitude
for general peace, the Greek government
will not fail in this duty, since Greece
also ardently desires to contribute to the
maintenance of peace and to save from
utter ruin the population of an island put
to so severe trial and so often decimated.
We believe that the new regime of auton-
omy adopted by the powers unhappiiy can
not correspond to the noble intentions
that inspire it, and that it will suffer the
fate of the different administrative sys-
TENS which at various times and without
success have been tried in Crete.
This is not the first time that Crete
finds herself in a state of insurrection In
recent times, on more than six occasions,
the horrors of anarchy have shaken and
imperilled her existence. If then the new
regime with which 1t is proposed to endow
her is not calculated to reeStablish order
in definite manner, the Greek government
cannot doubt the impossbility of putting
an end by means of it to the present state
of revolution. Anarchy will continue to
ravage the country with fire and sword in
it's hands, and blind fanaticism will con-
tinue its destructive work of exterminating
q people which assuredly does not deserve
such fate. Before such a prospect our
responsibility would be enormous II we did
not most earnestly urge the powers not to
insist upon the scheme of autonomy pro-
posed, but rather to restore to Crete what
she already had at the time of the enfran-
chisement of the other provinces which
form the kingdom of Greece, and to lead
her back to Greece, to which she belonged
since Capriodistis was president
I'm the presence of the recent massacre,
pillage and confiag grafton in Canea, in the
presence of the frightful anguish to which
the Inhabitants of Crete have been exposed
and menaced by the boundless fury of the
Mussulman population, who prevented the
departure of Christian families for Greece,
which has always been a providential
refuge for all these miserable beings, our
whole country was torn with remorse for
the possibility 1t assumed last year in
inNucing g CretnnS to lay down their
arms The misfortunes that resulted for
bid us to undertake once more such a task.
and If we had attempted 1t our voice would
certainly have been feeble. Its echo would
not have reached the Cretan people. 1t being
the case, therefore, that n new regime OF
autonomy could not fulfill the noble aim of
the powers, it is obvious what would be
the situation of the unhappy island from
the day until the establishment of this
regime.
"If the powers believe 1t to be their duty
to persevere in their resolutions, with the
above views and in the name of humanity,
as well as in the interest of the island tho
paclncaIlon OIL WHlcn is tne unique oDJecS
of the Solicitude of the powers, we do not
hesitate to appeal to them on the sub
jects of the other measures, namely, the
recall of our military forces. Indeed, If be-
cause of the presence of the united squad
rons in Cretan waters and in the conviction
that these squadrons will not permit Turk
ish troops to disembark on the island, the
presence also of all the ships of the Greek
fleet off Crete is judged to be unnecessary.
the presence of the Greek army on the
n H. l.
able alike from sentiments of humanity
and in the interests of the definitive rees-
tablishment of order.
sulman fanaticism and the Turkish army,
which at all times has deliberately and
Intentionally participated in the aggressive
acts of the populace against the Christians.
Above all, IL our troops on the island, who
are worthy of all the confidence of the
powers, have received mandate to pac-
ify the country, their desires and intentions
would have received promptly the most
perfect satisfaction. 1t would be then
after the reestablishment of order that 1t
would be possible to learn the desires freely
expressed of the Cyetan people for de-
cision as to their fate.
''The sorrows which have required reg
larly in Crete for many decades past not
only do not occur without profoundly agi-
tating the Hellenic people. but they also
interrupt social activity and gravely dis
turb the economy and finances of the
state Even If we admit that 1t would be
possible to forget for an instant that we
share the common religion of Crete, that
we are of the same race and bound by ties
of blood, we could not in silence allow tho
powers to assume that the Greek state is
able any longer to resist such shocks.
For this reason we appeal to the gener-
GUS sentiments animatng the powers, and
beg them to permit the Cretan people them
selves to declare how they desire to be
governed.
(Signed) 'SKOUZES"
The Vienna correspondent of the
Chronicle telegraphs that much anxiety
is felt there lest Great Britain refuse
to join in cocrcing Greece. AS yet,
Austria, Germany and Russia are the
only three of the six great powers that
have assented to the proposals made by
the foreign admirals in Cretan waters,
which imply severe blockade of the
coasts of Greece.
School Building Burned.
--fEka