The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-09
King Georges Reply to
Powers COnCiliatOry.
Requests That the People of
Crete Be Consulted.
Proposed Autonomy Will Fall In
Accomplishing Purpose.

Athens. March 9.-The reply OF Greece
10 the powers was finally drafted yes
terday and sent TO the foreign legations.
The cabinet sat all night in council. the
ministers not returning TO their homes
until after daybreak today.
The reply, after acknowledging the
receipt of the identical notes OF the pow
ers and recognizing the extreme gravity
OF possible results bound up In the situa-
tion, proceeds as follows:
The government OF his majesty. King
George, having examined with the clos
est attention the points whereon the
great powers are agreed. believes II
duty 10 submit TO the powers It's own
opinion on the measure proposed by
Them, an opinion which is the outcome
OF long experience and profound knowl-
edge OF the Cretan situation.
Moved profoundly by the sentiments
Eliminating the powers and their solici-
tude for the general peace, the Greek
goVernment Will not fail in It's duty, be-
cause Greece also has an ardent desire
TO contribute to the maintenance of
peace and TO preserve from complete
ruin islanders SO long and sorely tried
and so often decimated. We believe
that the proposed autonomy will un-
fortunately fail TO respond TO the nobler
fer the same fate as many previous un-
successful experiments in Crete.
The reply then refers 10 SIX previous
insurrections in Crete. and argues the
unlikelihood that the present proposals
of the powers will terminate a state Of
revolution. 1t continues:
Anarchy will ravage the country; fire
and sword i'm the hands of blind fanatic
ism will decimate people who do not
deserve such fate. In the face OF such
a prospect our responsibility would be
enormous. IL we failed earnestly TO urge
the powers TO restore to Crete what she
already had at the time of the enfran-
chisement OF the other Greek provinces
and TO lead her back TO Greece, 10 whom
she properly belonged since Capo Is
triaS was president.
In the presence of the recent scenes
OF massacres and pillage, the burning
of Canea, and the frightful anguish of
the Cretans, exposed 10 and menaced
by the boundless fury of Mussulmans.
our whole country was torn with re-
morse for its own responsibility. Ii as
sumed last year to persuade the Cretans
TO lay down their arms. but the mis-
fortunes which followed forbid us again
to undertake such a task. Even had we
ATTEMPTED II our voice would have been
only feeble echo and would not have
reached the Cretan people.
noble aim OF the powers II is obvious
what must be the situation of the un-
happX island from today until the estab-
lishment OF autonomy. If the powers
persevere In their decisions in the face
IF the foregoing views, then the name
" humanity as well as in the interests
y Crete, the pacifying of which is the
unique object of the solicitude Of the
powers. we do not hesitate TO appeal to
them on the subject of another measure
proposed by them, namely, the recall Of
cur troops.
Indeed, If the presence OF the foreign
equadrons 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 hu-
manity and In the interest OF definite
restoration of order
Duty forbids us to abandon the Gre
tans to the mercy OF Mussulman fa-
naticism md to the Turkish army, which
always deliberately and Intentionally
has shared in the aggressive acts OF the
populace against the Christians. More
over. If our own troops. which are worthy
the fullest confidence of the powers,
had received a mandate TO pacify the
island, their desires and intentions
would have been promptly received
with the most perfect satisfaction. The
order being restored, II would be pos
sible to ascertain the freely expressed
desires of the Cretans for decision as
TO their fate. The sorrows which have
regularly REQUIRED in Crete for many de-
cades 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 IL we admit the possi-
bility OF forgetting for a single instant
our community with the Cretans in re-
ligion, race and blood, we could not In
silence allow the great powers TO as
suma-that the Greek state is able longer
to resist such shocks.
Therefore, we appeal to the generous
sentiments animating the powers, and
we beg them to permit the Cretan peo-
pie themselves TO declare how they de-
sire to be governed.
(Signed) Skouzcs.
On the text of the reply becoming
known through the city the populace
exhibited great excitement, and on al
sides there was heated discussion of the
consequences likely to follow.
The warship Hydra has already beer
recalled from Cretan waters. leaving
only two small Greek vessels In that
quarter. This is regarded as a virtua
yielding 10 the powers so far as the flee
Is concerned III Is nslu, however, Una
the powers cannot now shut the dool
against further negotiations. The cab
met, IL is understood. was unanimous
as TO the terms Of the reply, the text o.
which was the personal work of the
king.
The offer 10 place the Greek forces In
Crete under a foreign general indicate:
the readiness Of the government to re
gard the forces as gen d'armie to assls
the foreign marines in restoring order.
London Dispatches.
London. March 9.-Parliamentary pa
pers have been Issued containing the full
text OF the notes 90 the powers TO Turkel
and Greece. The first note TO Turke,
made no mention OF the withdrawal o.
Turkish troops from Crete. but the sec
ond explained that the scheme of an
tonomy implied a progressive reduction
OF the Ottoman forces in the island. an'