The news & observer., 1897-03-13
The Seven Proposals Drawn up
by the Admirals.
MUST BE A GENDARMERlE
ENGLAND SUGGESTS CRETAN
SOLDIERS ONLY.
RUSSIA AND FRANCE OBJECT
AND Germany viii Not Furnish a Man
For Gendarmeris or a Pfennng
to Organize an Autonom-
Gus Government.

Paris, March 12-The following semi
official announcement was made this af-
ternoOn:
The Powers while united in principle,
have not yet been able TO reach a solution
of the Cretan question. Proposals and
objections are being exchanged hourly.
The programme drawn up by the adj
mirals in Cretan waters is as follows:
First-A blockade of the Island Of
Crete.
Second-A blockade of the Piraeus and
some of the other Greek ports.
Third-The seizure by a detachment of
the fleet of the telegraph offices at
Smyrna.
Fourth-Any Greek war-ships encoun-
tered are to be taken to the island of
Milo and kept there.
Fifth-Any Greek war-ships firing on
any foreign war-ships are to be sunk
and the act to be considered casus belli.
Sixth-Any Greek torpedo boat near
ing a foreign war-ship is TO be fired at.
Seventh-As the blockade of Greece
will require all the crews of the foreign
warships, each power is to send to Crete
a battalion Of infantry not exceeding six
hundred men in number.
Each of the foreign admirals tele-
graphed a copy of these proposals to his
government
Germany Immediately telegraphed to
the powers that she would accept the
proposals down to the seventh and that
she would accept the seventh in principle,
but she had not battalion available
Austria wired the powers that she would
accept the whole of the proposals of the
admirals; but, as Emperor Francis
Joseph was at Cape Martin, she must
have time to consult with His Majesty.
Italy telegraphed her acceptance of all
the proposals of the admirals, but it was
added they must be submitted to the
Cabinet Council, which would be done
within three days
Russia, Great Britain and France were
silent for time, and then Great Britain
proposed that Gendarmerie be or.
ganized in Crete by utilizing the Greek
troops, not using the Greek flag and not
using the Greek officers in this connec-
tion
Russia eventually answered that as the
powers had presented their ultimatum
to Greece. and as Greece had replied by
offering to withdraw her fleet, the an
swer was conciliatory and partly salts
factory Therefore, Russia proposed a
further collective note, demanding the
withdrawal of the Greek troops from
Crete. France seconded the reply of
Russia
During the pourparlers a general
agreement was suggested in that the
powers should each advance a certain
sum for the pay Of the Gendarmerie and
for the expense Of organizing the au-
tonomous government of Crete. This
was Immediately objected to by Ger
many on the ground that she was not
willing to spend a pfenning for this pur-
pose France this afternoon proposed to
the British Foreign Office that the pow
ers proceed Immediately to organize the.
Gendarmerie making governor of Cree
from Holland, Belgium or perhaps from
Switzerland Several names were sug-
gested and considered. Great Britain.
points out the semi-oficial announce.
ment, concludes, that the members
Of the previous Cretan Gendarmeria ran
away and mutinieed, and that the Greek
troops are the best available for this
purpose, consequently this proposal will
probably be a modus vivendi by which
the situation will be solved. as there is
no doubt the Greeks will accept it.
ON THE VERGE OF STARVATION.
Canea, Island of Crete, March II The
Mussulman refugees who have been
brought here are destitute and on the
verge Of starvation. and the island is
full Of bands OF robbers who are pillag-
ing the towns in the vicinity. The Cretan
insurgents are mbGri;Gg the fortress
CT Spinalonga; the garrison is still re-
sI5ting. Several conflicts between Mus
su!mans and Christians have occurred in
III, village Of Archancs.