The record-union., 1897-03-09
King George Does Not Believe Autonomy
Will Prevail in Crete,
Nor That the Proposals of the Powers
Will Stay the Troubles.
Begs the Foreign Powers to Allow the
Subjects of the Islands to Declare
How They Shall be Governed in
the Future.

ATHENS, March s Copyright 1897,
by the Associated Press.)-The CORE
spondent CT the Associated Press states
that the reply of Greece to the powers
was finally drafted this morning and
will be sent to the foreign delegations
this afternoon. The Cabinet sat up all
night in council, the members not go
ing to their homes until after daybreak
to-day.
| The reply after acknowledging re-
ceipt of the identical notes of the pow
ers, and recognizing the extreme grav-
ity of the possible results bound up in
the situation, proceeds as follows:
| The Government of his majesty, King
George, has examined with the
closest attention the points whereon
the great powers believe it a duty to
submit to the powers it's own opinion
of the measures proposed by them. An
opinion, which is the outcome of long
experience and profound knowledge of
the Cretan situation, and moved pro-
| foundly by these sentiments animating
the powers and their solicitude for the
| general peace, the Greek Government
will not fail in its duty; because Greece
! also has an ardent desire to contribute
to the maintenance of peace and to pre-
serve from complete ruin islanders, SO
| sorely tried and so often decimated.
| We believe the proposed autonomy will
unfortunately fail to respond TO the
noble intentions which inspires it, and
will suffer the same fate as many pre-
vious unsuccessful experiments in
! Crete"
! The reply refers to the six previous
| instructions in Crete, and urges the
unlikelihood that the present proposals
of the powers will terminate the state
of revolution. 1t continues: Anarchy
will ravage the country; fire and sword
in the hands of the blind fanaticism
will decimate a people who do not de-
serve such a fate. In the face of such
a prospect our responsibility would be
enormous if we failed earnestly to urge
| the powers to restore to Crete what
she already had at the time Of the en-
franchisement Of the other Greek prov
inces, and to lead her back to Greece,
to whom she has properly belonged
since Capo Iistrias was present.
In the presence Of the recent scenes
of massacre and pillage, the burning of
Canea and the frightful anguish Chris
tians were exposed to and menaced by
the boundless fury of Mussulmans, our
whole country was torn with remorse
for its own responsibility. 1t assumed
| last year to persuade the Cretans to
lay down their arms, but the misfor-
tunes which followed forbid us again
to undertake such a task. Even had
we attempted it our voice would have
been only a feeble echo, and would not
have reached the Cretan people.
LAS autonomy would not fulfill the
noble aim of the Powers it is obvious
| what must be the situation of the un-
| happy islanders from to-day until the
| Powers persevered in their decisions
| Powers perservered in their decisions
in the face of the foregoing views, then
in the name of humanity, as we'll as in
the interests of Crete, the facifying Of
which is the unique object Of the So
| licitude of the Powers, we do not hesi-
tate to appeal to them on the subject of
any measure proposed by them, name
| ly, the return of our troops.
| Indeed, if the presence of the for
eign squadrons and the conviction then
| preventing the landing of the Turkish
! troops are deemed to render unneces-
sary the presence of the Greek fleet in
| certain waters, the presence of the
Greek army in Crete is nevertheless
| shown to be describable from senti-
ments of humanity, and in the interests
Of a definite restoration of order
Duty forbids US to abandon the
! Cretans to the mercy of Mussulman
fanaticism and to the Turkish tyranny.
4 which also Ia1iIA1ra +a1x nd ;ct
| ~ had shared in the aggressive acts
of the popuace against the Christians.
| Moreover if our own troops. which are
worthy the fullest confidence of the
! Powers. had received a mandate to
j pacify the island, their desires and in
| tention would have been promptly re-
/ celVed with the most perfect satisfac-
] t0h Ihen, order being restored, it
! would be possible to ascertain the free
, ly expressed desires Of the Cretans for
a decision as to their fate. The sor-
rows which have regularly required in
Crete for many decades not only pro-
! foundiy agitate the Hellenic people. but
| interrupt also the social activity and
| gravity. disturb our domestic economy
and the finances of the state. Even If
| We admit the possibility of forgetting
for single instant our community
with the Cretans in religion, race and
| blood, we could not in silence allow tbe
great Powers to assume thatthe Greek
State is able longer to resist such
| shocks.
therefore. we appeal to the generous
sentiment animating the Powers. and
we Deg them TO permit the Cretan peo-
pie themselves to declare how they de-
sire to be governed.
sire to be governed. SCOTvzES"
CANEA. March s. 9:30 D. m-Tbis
evening the foreign Admirals notified
| the Greek Vice-Consul that he must
leave Crete. They also wired their re-
spective Governments for the imme-
date dispatch of GOO men to maintain
| order IN the large towns It is re-
ported the siege of Candiamo has been
raised and that the Mussulmans have
gone to Pal!kosa. where they are safe
LONDON. March S.-The Stock Ex-
change this morning opened distinctly
| buoyant on the general opinion that
the Cretan question will be peacefully
settled.
Improved prices were noted through
out Consols went up half a point and
foreigners quickly rallied.
/ iS rpi1 aI