The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-13

France seconded the request of Rus
Sia.
France this afternoon proposed to
the British foreign Office that the pow
ers proceed Immediately to organize the
gendarmerie naming a governor of
crete from Holland. Belgium, or per-
hapS from Switzerland. Several names
were suggested and considered Great
Brltaln points out, the semi official an
nouncement concludes, that the men,
pers OF the previous Cretan gendar-
merle ran away and mutinied and that
the Greek troops are the best available
Tor this purpose Consequently thia
proposition will be a modus vivendi. by
which the situation will be solved, as
there is no doubt the Greeks will ac-
cept 1T.
ATHENS, March 12.-There seems to
be but three ways out of the present diff
hculty. The most peculiar is that the
powers must accept the offers Of
Greece to withdraw her fleet from
Cretan waters and allow her army
OF occupation to remain nominally un-
der the control of a foreign officer out
ranking Col. Vassos, to be used for
the pacffication of the island, and
when that is accomplished a plebiscite
shall decide whether the Cretans pre-
fer annexation to autonomy.
The second suggested solution Is the
coercion, real or seeming, of Greece by
the blockade of the Greek coasts, as
we'll as the island Of Crete. This would
be a dangerous and difficult task
The third solution of this dangerous
and difficult problem Is contained in
the renewed rumors that King George
of Greece may abdicate in favor OF his
eldest son, Crown Prince Constantine,
duke Of Sparta, whose wife is Princess
Sophia of Prussia. sister of Emperor
William Of Germany. There are many
people who believe that the kings
abdication would be the best means of
clearing up the situation. While the
stand taken by King George in the
present crisis has undoubtedly i'm
proved his position among the Greeks,
his abdication would be a popular
step, as the populace have never quite
forgiven the king, for being foreigner.
while his sons. who were born in
Greece, are regarded as being one with
| themselves As-S4s.14ls-S. ~ y.1=7r.., ~. -
There is no Cessation of military ac-
stiXity- here or at Salonfka. A conflict
there may occur at any moment, and
then it may be beyond any human
power to stem the tide of war which
has been suHenly rising for a long
time past. The calmer minds are,
counseIling prudence, but the situation
is almost as grave as 1t could be, and
Greece is prepared to make the great.
est sacrifices If driven to desperation.
CONSTANTINOPLE, March 12.-An-.
other threatening feature has been
added to the Cretan situation. Renew,
ed outbreaks are being threatened In
Anatolia 1t appears that the condition
Of the Christians there is deplorable.
They are the victims of constant OPP
preston, outrage and murder and the
situation at Payas is so critical that
another Sassoun massacre is feaYed.
Advices received here from Erzeroum
say that large forces of Russian troops
are concentrating on the Armenian
frontier in the direction of Sarikamisch
III the district Of Kars.
Berlin, March PA dispatch receiv-
ed in this city from COnstantinople,
says that large quantities of Gras
rifles and cartridges are being snug
gied from Greece into the Turkish
island of Chios, off the West coast of
Asia Minor and via Smyrna, and are
being sold to the inhabitants of Chios
at low prices.