The Portland daily press., 1897-03-09
In BEHALF OF PROSECUTED
CRETANS.
Good Intention Of the Powers
Recognized.
BUT SCHEME FOR AUTONOMY DE-
CLARED TO BE WORTHLESS.

| Full Text Of Note Sent to Powers Yester-
day in Reply to Demand For With
drawal of Greeks From Crete-Plea to
Permit the Island Itself to Decide
What Its Fate Shall Be.
London. March S.-The Chronicle to
| morrow will publish despatch from
Athens giving the full text Of the reply
of Greeca to the powers. After brief
preamble the reply continues:
"In view Of the extraordinary gravi-
| ty of the results which will follow, His
Ma ajesty's government considers 1t its
duty to submit to the powers It's opinion
of the measures deoid ed upon, an 0pin-
ion which is the result of long expert
snce and profound acquaintance with the
situation in Crete. Impressed by the sem
| timents which animate the powers and
| their solioitude for the general peace,
the Greek government will not fail in
this.duuy, since Greece also ardently de-
sires to contribute to the maintenance of
peace and save from utter ruin the re-
putation Of an island put to so severe a
trial and so often decimated.
s'We believe that the regime of auton-
omy adopted by the powers cannot CORE
spond to the noble intentions that inspire
/ u H. IL xryf1 ho fato Of bo
different administrative systems, which
at various times and without success
have been tried in Crete.
'sThis Is the not the first tiIue Crete
finds herself in state of insurreotion.
In recent times on more than six ooca-
l ons the horror Of anarchy have shaken
and imperilled her existence. If then,
the new regime, which it Is proposed to
endow her, Is not calculated to re-estab-
lish order in a definite manner the Greek
government cannot doubly doubt the
impossibility Of putting an end by means
of it, to the present state OF revolution
"Anarchy will continue to reiQn over he
country. Blind fanaticlsm will continue
it's destructive work Of EXTERN ination of
people which aasuredly does not de-
serve such fate. Before such prospect
our responsibility would be enorm GUS,
ii we did not earnestly request the pow
ers not to insist on the scheme of autono-
my proposed, but rather restore to Crete
what she already had ut the time of the
enfran chisem emit of the other provinces
which form the kingdom of Greece and
to lead her back to Greece to which she
has belonged. since Capodistras was presi-
dent
"In the presence of the recent scenes
of massacre. pillage and confagration in
Canea, in the presence OF the frightful
anguish to which the Inhabitants of
Crete have been exposed and menaced by
the fury If the Mussulman population,
who prevented the departure Of Christian
families for Greece, which has always
been the providential refuge for all these
miserable beings, cur whole country was
torn with remorse for them.
In case that the 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
under the establishment of this regime.
eff the Powers believe it to be their
duty to perssvere in their resolution, in
the name Of humanity as we'll as in the
interest of the island, the paoifcation OF
which is the only object of solicitude of
the Powers, we do not hesitate to appeal
to them on the subject of the other meas
uf6 uhuoiyy tlC E6Uhll VI ObA
forces.
"Indeed, if because of the presence of
the united squadron in Cretan waters,
and in the conviction that this squadron
will not permit the Turkish troops to
disembark on the island, the presence
also of all the ships of the Greek fleet of
Crete Is judged to be unnecessary, the
presence of the Greek army on the
island is nevertheless shown to be de-
sirable,. alike from sentiments of hu-
manity the definite establishment of
order.
"Our duty specially forbids us to
abandon the Cretan people to the mercy
of the Mussulmns and the Turkish army
that at all times have deliberately and
Intentionally participated In the aRgres-
sive acts CT the populace against the
Christians Above all If our troops on
the island who are worthy of all the con-
fidence Of the Powers, had received a
mandate to pacify the country their de-
sires and intentions would have received
promptly the most perfect satisfaction. 1t
would thsn bs, after the re-esta blishment
of order that it would be possible TO
learn the desires freely expressed, of the
Cretan people for decision as to their
fate.
''The sorrows which have required
regularly In Crete for many decades past,
do not OCCUR withous profoundly agitat
ing the Hellenic people, but they also 1n-
terrnpt the social activity and disturb
the economy and finances of the state.
We appeal to thu generous sentiments
animating the Powers and beg them to
permit the Cretan people themselves to
declare now they desire to be governed.
(Signedl SkOWEI "
The Chronicle adds on high authority.
that the Greek ENJOYS abroad, have been
instructed Oh receipt of the reply to in
form the government to which they are
accredited that Greece is prepared to
recognize the temporary suzsranity OF the
Sultan, to withdraw her fleet completely,