The Indianapolis journal., 1897-03-09
King George VIII Recall His War
main In Greece to Preserve Order.
FOREIGN ADMIRALS FOR WAR
GREEK VICE CONSUL ORDERED TO
LEAVE THE ISLAND OF CRETE.
Request for Troops to Preserve Order
in the Townsville Piracus Not
Yet BlOckaded.
Copyright, 1897. by the Associated Press.)

Copyright 1897, by the Associated Press.)
ATHENS, March S.-The correspondent
of the Associated Press here learns that the
reply of Greece to the powers was finally
drafted this morning and sent to the for
eign legations this afternoon. The Cabinet
sat all night i'm council, the ministers not
returning their homes until after day
break to-day. The reply after acknowledge
ing the receipt of the identical notes OF the
powers and recognizing the extreme gravi-
~ of possible results bound up in the sit
uations proceeds as follows:
1.-THE government of his Majesty King
George, having examined with the closest
attention the points whereon the great
powers are agreed, believes it duty 10
submit to the powers its own opinion on
the measures proposed by them an opinion
which is the outcome of long experience
and profound knowledge OF the Cretan sit
uation. Moved profoundly by these senti-
ments animating the powers and their
solicitude for the general peace, the Greek
government will not fail in its duty. be-
cause Greece also has ardent desire to
contribute TO the maintenance of peace and
to preserve from complete ruin islanders
so long and sorely tried and so often deci-
mated. We believe that the proposed au-
tonomy will unfortunately fail to respond
to the nobler intentions which inspired it,
and will suffer the same fate as many pre-
vious unsuccessful experiments in Crete.
The reply then refers to six previous in
surrections in Crete, and argues the un-
likelihood that the present proposals of the
powers will terminate state of revolu-
ton. 1t continues:
Anarchy will ravage the country; fire
and sword in the hands of blind fanaticism
will decimate a people who do not deserve
such a fate. In the face of such pros
pect 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 enfranchisement Of the
other Greek provinces and to lead her back
to Greece to whom she has properly be-
longed since Cape Istrias was President.
lin the presence of the recent scenes of
massacre and pillage. the burning of Canea
and the frightful anguish of the Cretans.
exposed to and menaced by the boundless
| fury of Mussulmans, our whole country
was torn with renorse for its own respons-
bility. 1t assumed last year to pursuade
| the Cretans to lay down their arms, but
the misfortune which followed forbid US
| again to undertake such a task. Even had
| only a feeble echo and would not have
| reached the Cretan people
"As autonomy would not fulfill the noble
| aim of the powers, ii is obvious what must
be the situation of the unhappy island from
to-day until the establishment of auton-
omy. If the powers persevere in their de
cisions in the face of the foregoing views,
| then in the name of humanity, as we'll as
m ha int of vi of
| which is the unique object of the solcitude
of the powers, we do not hesitate to appeal
| to them on the subject of another measure
proposed by them, namely. the recall of our
| troops Indeed, if the presence of the for
] eign squadrons and the conviction that they
| prevent the landing of Turkish troops are
| deemed to render unnecessary the presence
of the Greek fleet in Cretan waters, the
presence of the Greek army in Crete is
| nevertheless shown to be desirable alike
| from sentiments of humanity and in the
| interest of definite restoration of order
DUTY forbids us to abandon the Cretans
| to the mercy of the Mussulman fantaticism
| and to the Turkish army which always de-
| liberately and Intentionally had shared in
| the aggressive acts Of the populace against
| the Christians. Moreover, If our own
! troops, which are worthy the fullest con-
| fdence of the powers. had received a men
! date TO pacify the island their desires and
| intentions would have been promptly
| ceived with the most perfect satisfaction.
/ Then order being restored, 1t would be
| possible TO ascertain the freely expressed
| desires of the Cretans for decision as TO
| their fate. The sorrows which have regu-
larly recurred in Crete for many decades.
| not only profoundly agitate the Hellenic
| people, but interrupt also all social activity
| and gravely 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 the great powers
| to assume that the Greek state is able
| longer TO resist such shocks.
Therefore. appeal to the generous
sentiments animating the powers and we
beg them to permit the Cretan people
themselves to declare how they desire TO
| be governed"
| on the text Of the reply becoming gen
| orally known through the city the populace
| exhibited great excitement and on all sides
there was heated discussion of the con-
| sequence likely TO follow The war ship
| Hydra already has been recalled from
| Cretan waters. leaving only two small
| Greek vessels in that quarter. This is re-
| garded a virtual yielding to the powers
| so FAR as the fleet is concerned. 1t is held
| however that the powers cannot now shut
| the door against further negotiations. The
| Cabinet. il is understood, was unanimous
| as to the terms OF the reply. the text of
which was the personal work of the King.
/ The offer to place the Greek forces in
Crete under foreign general indicates the
readiness of the government TO regard the
forces as gendarmerie 10 assist the foreign
marines i'm restoring order.
| KING GEORGES OFFER