Evening star., 1897-03-05
RESPONSE OF GREECE
To Withdraw From Crete Would
Mean Massacre of Christians.
STATEMENT BY KING GEORGE
Italy Demands Satisfaction From
Turkey.
WAR BELIEVED IMMINENT


by King George in the course of an in
teryiew today is probably forecast of the
reply which Greece will make to the iden-
teal notes of the powers insisting upon the
withdrawal of the Greek fleet and troops
from Crete within the six days from noon
Monday. the time the notes were delivered.
His majesty said:
THE Greek nation is unable to bear any
longer the strain and excitement caused by
constant Cretan revolutions and our
finances will not permit us to support the
refugees, who now number about 1000.
Nothing will prosper in Greece until the
question is definitely settled. The autono-
my of Crete is out of the question, because
the Cretans reject ii and have lost faith
in the promises Of the powers. They pre-
fer TO die in their own defense rather than
to be slaughtered like the Armenians. The
recall of the Greek troops from Crete
would mean the signal for massacres
ON large scale. owing to the fierce IA
naticism of the Mussulmans. who see they
have the support of the six great powers,
since the latter covered the Turkish at
tack on the Christians and shelled the
victorious Cretans. who were fighting for
freedom and the cross. and at a moment
when the Turks were compelled to retire
Premier Delyannis. in interview is
reported to have reiterated that the Greek
troops would not he Withdrawn from Crete
and to have expressed the fear that ma
ment TO invade Turkey.
Greece. he is quoted as having added
had not accepted the scheme for the au-
tonomy of Crete which had been proposed
by the powers.
The premier asked that a plebiscite of
the Cretans be taken. and added that
Greece would prefer to disappear from the
map rather than to withdraw her forces
from Crete in the face of threats.
Attitude of the Powers in Crete.
The Greek government has protested
against the silence of the admirals in COM
mand of the foreign fleets in Cretan
waters with reference TO the demand of
the Greek Commodore Sachtouris that he
he allowed 10 communicate the orders of
King George 10 Colonel Vassos in command
OF the Greek army occupation and re-
questing that he be allowed to go to the
assistance OF the besieged Turks at Can
damo- The government has sent dispatch
TO its representa- tiveS abroad communicate
ing the above facts to them, and adding
that the Greek cabinet believes that since
the admirals and the Consuls have wit
messed the failure of their efforts to raise
the siege il is their desire to place every
obstacle In the way of the Greeks efforts
10 do so, so that In the event of a massa-
ere they will be able to throw the respon-
stbility upon the shoulders of the Greeks
The dispatch continues:
We have instructed our consul at Ca
nea to inform the Turks who requested his
Intervention of the hindrance created by
the foreigners"
In view of the continuous arrival of
Turkish troops on the frontier 1T is be-
leved that Greece will call out the re-
mainder of her reserves.
Russia Expects Greece to Yield.
ST. PETERSBURG, March 5.-The semi
official Journal de ST. Petersburg publish
es long statement to the effect that the
Imperial cabinet is animated by an ardent
Gesire to expedite the work of Cretan ap-
peasement, and took the initiative in pro-
posing the scheme formulated in the identi-
cal notes 10 Turkey and Greece. The state
neht concludes as follows:
There is reason TO hope that further
clfhculties will not arise. and that Greece
VIII prove her wisdom by bowling to the
mighty VIII of United Europe. In the COM
non interests Of peace and legality il cam
rot desire TO endanger her future by acts
OF lInprudence calculated to compromise il.
ne tIreeks may be happy in the knowI-
edge that their Cretan kirsm-n will in fu-
ture enjoy local autonomy. assuring their
"ehare and tranquility. Russia, who has
ever mad al heart the interests of the Chris
tan people OF the east will regard rh,. s11p-
gested solution with all the greater salts
faction. as ii is I'm harmony with her desire
lof universal appeasement and is in the
spirit OF equity by which the imperial gov
erAnent IS constantly inspired
War Relieved Imminent.
IoNDON, March 5--It Is generally he
heNed here that war between Greece
ana turkey Is imminent. The decision of
Greece 10 defy the powers is confirmed on
All sides. and the center of interest has
not shifted in Greece to maintain it.
IL is generally felt In England that the
dlSpatch, signed by q hundred liberal and
Irish national members of the house ~
ctmmors. which was sent last evening To
'ht hing OF Greece. expressing sympatbv
with his efforts and the efforts of the
creek nation and government in behalf of
Irete. was a great mistake and that ft
VIII only mislead the king and nation into
the belief that Great Britain will not ioin
'ne other powers IN coercive measures
The Westminster Gazette. liberal saws:
hen the king receives this svmpa-
theuc message he will do vel, 10 observe
that the government has majority Of
one hundred and fifty in the house Of com
mons III he understands the bearing of
thiS- and II ne knows that the British gov
eFLment can only be diverted from its de-
clsion by an adverse vote of the house of
con mons. which there is apparently not
the slightest chance of obtaining he Will
tetter understand the value of this mes
sage"
The Daily News expresses itself in a sim
mar tone. and the fact that the powers are
pledged to obtain for Crete absolute and
effective autonomy. and, as stated in the
mousse OF commons by the parliamentary
secretary for the foreign office Mr. Ceorpe
y. Curzon. that the Turks shall retain no
military control influence in Crete ,s
entirely ignored by the extreme liberals
led by the Daily Chronicle But f., is said
mat no one else believes that Great Britain
VIII help Greece, or even withdraw from
the concert of the powers
according to the Daily News ..armed O.,
prevention by Great Britain in behalf OF
Greece would simply mean war to enforce
the difference between absolute autonom,
In Crete and its incorporation with Greece :
Attitude of the Greek OmcinI..
The attitude of the Greek officials in Lon.
don Is most determined. The consul gen
eral for Greece. NJ. Leon Messinesf in a,
interview with representative of the AS
sociated Press today, said there was no
the least probability of Greece Welding +,
the demands of the powers He added tho
the fact that another 10000 men of the re
serves were called out yesterday shows tha
Greece means to end the present situation
Gresce- ne continued. has recently spen
large sums on her frontier defenses whicl
are now In good order. Another official n
the Greek consulate remarked that il m,
powers carry out their threat to try to dis
lodge the Greek troops in Crete they will
have to land 5.OD men 10 do so. He added
Even then our troops will fight for ever,
inch of ground We have stood this az