Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-10-20
The Future of Crete.

| Inc futufe OI crete.
The experiment made eight years
ago by the powers in creating Prince
George OF Greece high commissioner
for the government of Crete has
failed, it appears, and the prince has
resigned. A new modus vivendi is
to be established. The four protect
ing powers-E England, France, Italy
and Russia have informed the king
of Greece that he is empowered to
name a new high commissioner for
confirmation, first by the four pow
ers and afterward by the sultan Of
Turkey. Germany and Austria, it
may be observed have retired from
connection with the management of
Crete, partly because they wished 10
be free from an irksome and eXpen-
siye responsibility and partly be-
cause they wish TO be on good terms
with the sultan. The new high com
missioner will be, IL Is believed, NJ
| Iaimis, former president of the
Greek chamber of deputies. He will
for period of five years. exercise
tho authority Of the powers, after
which interval successor will be
chosen In the same manner. The in
cident is significant in several ways.
It makes the connection of Crete
with Greece somewhat closer and
virtually ends the connection of
Creto with Turkey. Crete hereafter.
like Egypt, will be nominally pos
session of the Sultan Abdul Hamid.
but only nominally. 4 further step
has been taken toward the ultimate
absorption OF Crcte into the Greek
kingdom. It's immediate incorpora-
tion into that kingdom would excite
the iealously resentment and ambi-
tions OF the Bulgarians, Servians
Roumainians; but for the present
the high commlssonership Is a
good working scheme, especially
since the aspiration of the Cretans
for interpretations with Greece has
now been partially recognized by the
of the powers.
Certain reforms in Crete are pre-
scribed by the powers. The armed
police, for example, are to be reor-
gani2ed and the international finance
commission which has Greece's
finances in charge is TO extend its
operations TO Crete. Local officials
are no longer to be allowed to inn
pose unwise taxes and waste the
proceeds of taxation In indulging the
caprice of local politicians. The
Cretan government has opposed this
reform as reducing Crete 20 a state
of slavery" hat curbing the liber-
ties of the spoilsmen hardly deserves
SO harsh characterization, A pure
democracy cannot, however, be said
to exist the former realm of King
Minos 4 dispatch of September IA
from Canea, describing the reassem-
bling OF the national assembly, |
states that International troops and !
gendarmes were stationed outside
the building In which the deputies |
met and "iuside order was main
tanned by gendarmes aud an Italian
captain with bugler"
Such a scene recalls occurrences at |
state capitals In the south during !
The reconstruction" era. Some OF |
The Crotan deputies. new as they are
To free institutions. noticed the
anomaly OF armed police inside and
outside their place OF meeting aud
declared the suscep,ibilitles OF
'Wiliaed people wounded" The pre-
'autlons were not however, Il APP
lears, superauous, owing 60 the
pleasant way Cretan patroits have !
lt discussing political matters with
he aid of pistols and daggers.S The
dispatch referred 20 ends with the
iiatoment that ON the day OF tho
.ssemhling Of the deputies "a num-
ler Of roiters, the most threatening
4 whom were customs Officers. were
Ifter the adjournment kept from a
onhlct With their enemies in tha
own only by the International
ro0ps Crete Is IA the unfortunate
,osition of haVine "A raea, tss,,a |