The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-10
The Case for Crete.

The April North American RepietD con-
tains an outline Of the history Of Crete
during the present century, contributed
by Mr.. DEMETRIUs N. BoTAssI, Grecian
Consul. General in New York. The writer's
purpose Is to show that the responsibility
for the existing state of things in the island
does not rest upon tho Cretans themselves
nor upon Greece and her sovereign.
The present insurrection Of the Cretan
Christians is, in truth, the ninth since that
island came into the possession of the Turks
in 1869. In 1921 Crete, with the other
Greek islands, revolted against the rule Of
the Sultan; but when by the treaty of Lon
don in 1880 Greece became an Independent
kingdom the island was handed back to
Turkey. Since hat time rebellions have
been periodical for the reason that
Greece has been always one Of the
worst governed of the Ottoman provinces.
In 1S4O the island was handed over
to MEHEMET ALI Of Egypt, but shortly
afterward the Turks regained it, and ex-
ercised such oppression as to provoke, in
1856, a formidable uprising, which lasted
over two years. Had 1t not been for the
mutual distrust of the European powers,
the islanders would have then attained
their end, which was union with Greece.
The suppression Of that instruction i'm
posed upon the Turkish treasury an outlay
of over thirty million dollars, or more han
the cost to the Ottoman empire of the
Crimean war.
Toward the close of 1868 q new organic
law for the island was published, which
promised some liberal concessions to the
Cretan Christians. These concessions were
never carried out, and the result was q re-
currence of the old discomfort and anarchy.
At the Berlin Congress, an earnest appeal
having been made by the Cretans through
the Greek delegate, the following article
was inserted in the Berlin Treaty: "The
Sublime Porte undertakes to apply scrupu-
lousy to the island of Crete the organic
law of 1868, while introducing into 1t the
notifications which may be considered ad-
visable." The Turks signed the treaty, but,
as they took no steps to execute the clause
quoted, a fresh insurrection broke out.
Thereupon, the Porte sent MUKHTAR
Pasha to Crete, with power to grant GER
tain privileges in pursuance of the law of
1868. Negotiations took place between
the Turkish Commissioner and delegates of
tue SuTlStlduS, anu tue OulCOIuc was VIC bU-
called treaty of Halepa, signed Oct. IS.
1878. By the terms of this agreement the
Governor Of the island was to be a Christian
and a limited measure of autonomy was
granted. The new regime, however, would
not work; for 1t was not intended by the
Turks to work. A Christian Governor, in
deed, was appointed. but, simultaneously, .
military Governor was sent who had the com
mand of the troops and could act independ-
emily. The position of the former thus be-
came ~untenable, and, after the appointment
of one or two moro Christian Governors,
a Mohammedan took their place. The con-
cessions of the Halcpa treaty were all with
drawn, one after another, until the instru-
ment became a dead letter. The resultant
insurrection of 1889 caused the Sultan
even to abolish formally the Halepa Pact.
In July, 1895, however, when hostilities
again broke out between Mohammedans
N Christians, tho Porte, pressed by
the ambassadors of the powers. promul-
gated a new trade, providing that the Gov
ernor-General of the island should be a
Christian appointed by the Sultan with
the approval of the powers; that taxes
should be levied by a National Assembly,
II that public offices should be distributed
in the proportion of two-thirds to Chris.
tians and one-third to Mohammedans. An
organic law embodying these concessions
was accepted by the delegates Of the
Cretan Christians on Sept. 8, 1896. The
Porte, nevertheless, put all sorts of impedi-
ments in the way of the ful1lment OF
the reforms; the Mohammcdans Of Crete
were enraged at the privileges granted
to the Christians; the foreign Consuls.
who had acted as Intermediates in the
negotiations, looked on passively, and
took nc measures to assure the execu'
ton Of the agreement. Hence the renewal
of the scenes of pillage, massacre, and in.
cendiarism eliminating in the slaughter OF
Christians at Canea, which forced the
European powers to take cognizance of the
Cretan question.
With regard to the charge that Greece
fomented the instruction of July. 1896.