The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-03-09
Creece's Reply to the Powers in Effect Re-
afIfms Her Former Policy.
HER TROOPS MUST REMAIN IN CRETE
The HcniS says Slae cannot Withdraw
Her SOIdicry IL She Would, SO
Stron: is Popular Feeling Against
Such Movenicnt--RusSin ana Ger.
many Ready to blockade Ports.

| the powers. After a brief preamble the
reply contnues:
IN view of the extraordinary gravity
o. the results which will follow, Ills
Nlalcstv's government considers its duty
10 submit to the powers it's opinion OF
Inc measures decided upon.
: Impressed by the sentiments which
animate the powers and their soicitude
for general peace, the Greek, govern
mcnl vii not fail in duty since Greece
also ardent}y desires to contribute To
the maintenance OF peace and TO save
from utter ruin the population of an is
land put to so severe trial and SO often
decimatcd.
| AUTONOMY WILL NOT ANSWER. /.
we believe that the new regime of
autonomy adopted by The powers un-
naDFlly cannot correspond TO The noble
intention that inspire 1t and that It will
suffer the fate Of tho different admins
lratlFc systems which at various times
an" without success have been tried by
| Crete -
This is not the first time that Crete
iihdS herSelt in q state OF insurrccton
IN recent times on more than six occa-
sions the horror or anarchy have shaken
ana impcrilled her existence
| If he new regime with which il is
proposed to endow hcr'is not calculated
to re-establish order in n detinitiyc man
nei the Greek government cannot
doubt the impossibilty OF putting an
enc by means OF 1t TO the present
State Oh revolution. Anarchy will contin-
uc IT'S destructive work OF cXtcrmiuat-
ihE II people which assuredly does not
deserve such a fate 1
Eclore such 4 prospect our responsi-
| hiity would be enormous If we did not
most earnestly urge the powers not 10
ihslst upon the scheme Of autonomy
proposed, but rather restore n C,rntn
"Eht she already had atthe time of the
enlfanchlsement of the other provinces
which form the kingdom or Greece. and
| 20 lcau her back to Greece to which
Shc belonged since Capriodis was Prcsi-
dent. -.
THE CRY OF THE CHRISTIANS
In the presence OF the recen, mas
shcrc, piliase and conflagration in Ca
Heil, IN the presence of the frightful
ahSulsn to which the inhabitants OF
Crete nave been exposed and menaccd
pS the Douhdless fury of the Mussulman
population. who prevented the departure
ol Christian families f)r Gre see. which
mas always been Il providental refuge
Ior all these miserable beings, our whole
country was torn with remorSe for tho
responsibility it assumed last year in
inducing the Cretans 30 lay down their
arms. The misfortunes that resulted
lofbid us to undertake once more such
TASK, and If we had attempted IL our
VOICE would certainly have been feeble.
LIS echo would not have reached the
Cretan people.
sit being the ease therefore ,bat
new regime of autonomy could not full
III the noble aim OF the powers, it is
obvious what would be the situation or
the unhappy island from to-day until
the establishment OF this regime
IF the powers believe ii to be their
duty TO persevere in their resolutions,
with the above views and in the name
OF humanity, as well as in interest OF
the island. the paclica ton OF which Is
the unique object OF the Solicltude OF the
powers, we do not hesitate to appeal to
them on the subjects of the other meas
ures, namely the recall Of our military
forces. Indeed, il because OF the pres
sure OF the united squadrons in Cretan
waters and in the conviction that those
squadrons will not permit Turkish troops
10 disemhark on the island, the presence
| also Of all the ships OF the Greek fleet
eff Crete is judged to be unnecessary.
the presence of the Greek army on the
island is nevertheless shown to be de-
siraDle alike from sentiments Of hu-
| manity and In the interests OF the def
mite establishment Of order.
CANNOT SURRENDER BROTHERS.
Our duty specially forbds us 10 aban-
don the Crctan people TO the mercy OF
Mussulman fanaticism and the Turkish
army, which at all times has deliberately
and Intentionally participated in the ag
the Christians. Above ALL If our troops
on the island, who arc worthy OF all the
confidence OF the Powers have received
a mandate 10 nlcify the country their
desire and intentions would have re-
ceived promptly the most perfect salts
faction. II would he then after the re-
establishment Of order that it would be
possible TO learn the desires freely cX-
pressed by the Crctan pople for deci-
sion rs to their fate.
THE sorrows which have occRrrcd
regularly in Crete for many decades
past not only do they occur without pro-
toundly agitatng the Hellenic people,
but they also inturrupt social activity
and grayely disturb the economy and fl
nances Of the State. Even if we admit
that it would be impossible to forget
for an instant that we share
the common religion of Crete,
that we are of the same race
and bound by ties Of blood, we
could in silence allow the powers 10
assume that the Greek State Is able no
longer to resist such shocks.
For this reason we appeal to the gen
erOus sentiments animating the powers
and beg them to permit the Crctan pco-
pie themselves to declare how they de-
sire to be governed
4 /. o. T. - ScS ~ ~