The state herald., 1897-03-12
THE GREEKS ANSWER.
THEY CONCEDE PART OF THE
DEMAND.
VIII Withdraw tho Fleet. but the Army
Should Remain to Prevent u Massacre of
Cretan Christians.

Athens, March 9.-rhe government
of Greece yesterday sent to the for
eign ministers her reply to the order
given last week to evacuate Crete.
The reply of Greece is conciliatory
in tone, fully recognizing the import
ant objects the powers have in view
and offering to withdraw her fleet
from Cretan waters. Greece, how
ever, points to the fact that it is i'm
possible for her to withdraw her
troops from that island in view of the
danger of further massacres. On the
other hand, Greece offers to place her
troops in Crete under the control of
the powers, in order that they may
he available for the restoration of or
der.
The reply refers to the six pre-
vious instructions in Crete, and ar
CUES the unlikelhood 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 fanatics will deci-
mate a people who do not deserve
such n 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 ut the time of
the enfranchisement of the other
Greek provinces and to lead her back
to Greece, to whom she has properly
belonged since CapO 1strlas was presi-
dent.
"In the presence of the recent scenes
of massacre and plllage, the burning
of Canea and the frightful anguish of
the Crctans, exposed to and menaced
by the boundless fury of Mussulmans
our whole country was torn with re
morse for its own responsibility. 1t
assumed last year TO persuade the
Cretans to lay down their arms. but
the misfortunes which followed for
bid us to undertake such a task Even
had we attempted 1t. our voice would
have been only n feeble echo, and
would not have reached the Cretan
people"
London, March 9.-Thc 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 for coercion.
The Daily News thinks the reply fur.
nlshes n reasonable basis for further
negotiations.
II Is stated that Admiral Canevaro
Of the Italian fleet, in command Of the
combined sqnadrOns, proposes as n
first step in the event of negative re-
ply from Greece, that all the powers
should recall their ministers from
Athens.
Probably it will he decided to en-
force n peaceful blockade. applying
only To vessels under the Greek flag.
These would not he contiscatcd. but de.
tained only until the blockade was
raised. Much is hoped, in the way of
n solution of the difficulty, from Lord
Salisbury's visit to the queen and the
influence of the royal family upon
King George.
Parliamentary papers have been is
sued containing the full text of the
notes of the powers TO Turkey and
Greece. The first note TO Turkey made
no mention Of withdrawal of Turkish
troops from Crete. but the second ex.
planned the scheme of autonomy i'm.
piled n progressive reduction of the OF.
toman forces in the island and that
therefore, after the Hellenic evacua.
tion, the Turkish troops must be with.
drawn to the occupied town.