The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-26
GREECE DEFIES THE GIANTS.
KING GEORGE TO MAINTAIN HIS
PRESENT POLICY.

1t Impossible to Recall the Greek
Troops From Crete-Retreat Would
Endanger the Kings Place ON the
ThrOne-rhe Policy of the British
Government Proclaimed in the
House of Lords.
| London Feb. 26, l a. ma dispatch from
Athens to the Central News says that
King George and his cabinet proclaim
their resolve to maintain their present
policy. They declare that it is impossible
for them to recall the Greek troops from
Crete.
| The Athens correspondent of the STAN
dard telegraphs that it is reported that
| Col Smolentz, minister OF war, has re-
newed his offer to resign There are signs
that other members of the cabinet are
| inclined to take similar step, but any
| indication of retreat from the kings poll
| icy would involve the greatest danger
| to the throne. 1t is unlikely, therefore,
that there will be any faltering in the
highest quarters. There is doubtless a
| grim popular determination to follow the
sacrifices already made TO the bitter end.
! An expression of the evaporation felt
at the attitude of the powers was given to-
day when three hundred volunteers, who
had been prevented by the warships from
landing in Crete, marched through the
streets accompanied by military bands.
1t is understood that the note of the
powers arrived to-day and that it will be
presented TO the government tomorrow.
The reply will probably be dictated by
the resolution of the Cretans to yield only
to superior force.
The proposal of the powers is regarded
| as precarious make-shift which will not
end the crisis.
The Roman Catholic archbishop of
Athens has sent details of the sufferings
| of the Cretans to the pope, praying that
he use his best offices to procure an equit-
| able solution of the trouble.
| The blockade of Crete is now being
strictly maintained. The scarcity of pro-
visions is beginning to be felt The for
| eign admirals have stopped all communi-
cations between the Greek warships and
| Col. Vassos, the commander of the Greek
army of occupation. British torpedo
boat has undertaken to convey commune
cations from Col. Vassos to Athens.
The Daily News. i'm its comments to-
| morrow on the latest developments in the
Cretan trouble, while welcoming the broad
fact of autonomy being granted to the IS
land, will emphasize the necessity OF
searching examination into the details, es-
pecially the proposal that the Greek
| troops shall be withdrawn prior TO the
Turkish troops. This proposal, the paper
declares must be reconsdered, unless the
international forces are ready to replace
| the Turkish garrisons. Apart from this,
Greece, having extorted a settlement from
| the powers, can bow to superior force
without disloyalty to the Hellenic idea.
| It is presumed that the article in the
| Daily News officially embodies the views
of the liberals.
London, Feb. 25.-There was a large at
tendance of peers and visitors at the OPEN
ing of the sitting of the House of Lords
this morning. Several Of the peeresses
were present, and a number of bishops
other than those entitled to sit in the
House of Lords, together with some mem
bers of the House Of Commons, looked on
from the galleries.
Soon after the House came to order, Lord
| Dunraven rose and made formal request
that the government inform the House as
to the exact situation in Crete, and the
governments negotiations with the pow
ers looking to a settlement of the difficult
ties.
Lord Salisbury, upon rising to reply,
was tremendously cheered and when the
cheering had subsidized, said that a teie-
gram had been sent to the British repre-
| sentative at the capital of each of the COM
bined European powers, the phraseology
of which was as follows: Inform the
government to which you are accredited
that her majesty's government proposes
to make the following declaration of the
policy they intend to pursue, which they
believe to be in accordance with that of
their allies:
First that the establishment of admin
istrative autonomy in Crete is necessary
to the termination of international occu-
patton of that island.
Second, that subject to such system of
administrative autonomy Crete ought to
remain a portion of the Turkish empire.
Third that the governments of Turkey
and Greece ought to be Informed of this
resolution.
Fourth, that IL either Turkey or
Greece should persist in a refusal when
required to withdraw her naval and mil
itary forces from the island the powers
should impose their decision by force"
Lord Salisbury said it did not follow that
the Turkish troops would be withdrawn
from Crete Immediately; nevertheless, the
practical withdrawal of her troops from
the island was necessary condition to the
establishment of autonomy, and they
would therefore be withdrawn.
The premier then gave as instances of
autonomous administration the form of
government, which now obtains in the Is
land of Samos, a Turkish possession, and
which formerly prevailed in Servia, and
proceeded to say he imagined that the
powers would require the Greek troops in
Crete to be withdrawn at an earlier date
than the Turkish troops; but he was I'M
able to give any further details until he
knew what decision had been reached by
the powers. Still 1t was his belief that
the powers recognized the principles he
had announced as animating their policy
The whole incident occupied twenty min
utes.
Subsequently the Earl of Kimberly held
a conference with Sir William Harcourt
in a private room.
The conservatives are unanimous in the
approval of the method of settlement of
the Cretan difficulties.
The floor and galleries of the House of
Commons were crowded with members