Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-19
CRETAN QUESTION AGAIN ACUTE.

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The Ottoman empire Is perpetually In
trouble either with her dependencies or with
Europe. At the present mo-
TURKISH ment there is trouble at
Troubles. Roustchouk between Greeks
and Bulgarians. a compile
ment of the Greco Roumanian conflict de-
scribed in The Star Of October 20. 1905:
trouble tn Mesopotamia; trouble on the
Persian border: trouble IN the Yemen: trou-
BILE In the Tripolitan, and now trouble In
Crete and Samos.
The national assembly Of Crete has again
and again demanded of Europe It's freedom
from Turkish rule and its union with Greece.
but the powers persist in. declaring the
union impossible. The Cretan question has
not been settled by the note OF the commits
sioners and the latest dispatches from Ca
nea. the capital. attribute to Prince George.
high commissioner. the Intention to resign
his office II he may do SO with the authority
Of the king.
n. Deiyanni. minister Of Greece at Paris,
in q recent interview with the Figaro. said !:
1.-THE situation II grave because the Gre
tans feel that their grievances have not
been seriously considered by the powers
My position Is delicate. and will not per-
NIT me to express my opinion freely or
criticise the decision OF the four powers
Nevertheless I may say that the powers
ton and calm, in which there was a hope
Of a movement in the direction OF the an
nexation of Crete to Greece. have. on the
contrary. by the recent measures proposed
seriously complicated the situation The
Cretans had the profound conviction that
the foreign troops would be replaced by
Greek soldiers. Now 1t is proposed to or
ganize militia with Greek Officers. who
shall be required to quit the Hellenic army.
The deception Is apparent know that
the journals announce that In view OF
these difficulties Prince George has re-
quested the king, his father. to authorize
his resignation. There. indeed. Is the dan
ger. for the Cretans win never accept Of
their free viii the administration of a
foreign prince. and It will be irnprudent.
besides. to attempt to force such a thing.
They will raise up in the island q general
discomfort, the consequences Of which will
be deplorable.
1.-The Cretans are passionately patriotic.
and 1t Is only necessary to understand this
which Is contrary to their national aspira-
lions. cannot because Of my functions.
indicate the reasons which prevent the pow
ers from accepting these aspirations. But
cord with those who comprehend the situa-
ton In Crete"
terranean. about 100 miles in length. and
varying from five to thirty
Facts About five miles In breadth, the
Crete. total area being 1885 square
miles. According to the
census of 1900 the inhabitants numbered
3OS,543. Of whom 269. 319 are Christian. g. 400
Mussulmans and 72S Jews. The chief towns
are Canea. the capital. with 24,537 inhabi-
tants: Rethrymo. 9,311. and Gambia, 22,74.
There are $500 Greek and Roman Catholic
churches. IS Mohammedan MOSQUES lew
Ism synagogues, So Greek mona steries z
nunnertes and 2 Roman Catholic conyents
Eoucation Is compulsory from six to eleven
years. The island Is mainly AGRICULTURAL
and its chief product is olive oil, used prin-
clpaily In the manufacture of SOAP Other
products are carOb beans, valonea fruits
wines wines chestnuts, hides and leather. cheese.
SILK sheep. goats, asses. oxen, hogs and
horses. Half the tonnage Is Austro- Hunea-
Ran: the other half Greek and Turkish.
Ihe postal system was inaugurated in 1900,
ana Crete became a member Of the postal
union in the same year.
The system of extortion EMPLOYED nv the
Turkish functionaries and the Albanians
composing the garrisons. provoked bloody
revoits. which. having commenced at the
moment Of Greek independence, were re-
pressed by the Egyptian troops. who occu-
pied Gambia from 1923 to 1910. These re-
volts were renewed in 1858, 1866, 1869, 1873
and 1859 The latest outbreak. in 1896. was
supported by the Greeks, and provoked the
intervention OF the powers who obliged the
sultan to give the island a Christian gov
ernor
After seventy years of almost continuous
fnsurrection the four powers-Russia, Great
Britain. France and Italy-interfered and
constituted the island, with adjacent islets,
an autonomous state. under a high commits
sioner. subject to the suzerainty of the porte,
Prince George of Greece, the second SON of
the King of the Hellenes, born June "a
1869. was chosen for three years. the ap-
pointment being renewed at the end of each
term.
The constitution of April %, $780, pro-
vides for an assembly Bu1e), consisting of
sixty-four deputies elected one for every
five thousand inhabitants and ten deputies
nominated by the prince.
In consequence of the dissatisfaction
shown by the inhabitants. the four powers
In 1905 delegated special
Tne foWerS commissioners to inquire
Intervene. and report as to the adj
illustrative and financial
reforms necessary. The Cretan assembly
in the same year resolved that a national
assembly should be convoked for the spe-
cial purpose of revising the constitution.
The delegates of the powers sent to Crete
to report upon reforms were as follows: M.
Defrance, minister plenipotentiary for
France; M. Law, for England; NJ. Sergeif,
for Russia; NJ. Guala, senator for Italy.
These gentlemen. after three weeks of dis
cussion, arrived at conclusions which were
embodied in a note which will be communi-
Gated to the Cretan assembly. The so-called
reforms are denounced by the public and
press in Athens and Canea as inadequate
and clumsy Public feeling. indeed. runs SO
high that the King Of Greece has postponed
his departure pending the solution of the
question The official Gazette Of Canea pub
lished the note. bearing date July %, 1905:
"The protecting powers, having given
sympathetic consideration to the conclu-
sions of their delegates. are anxious to con-
vince the people of their sincere interest
and desire to satisfy as far as possible their
legitimate aspirations. Inspired by the pro-
posaIs of their delegates. the powers con-
slider it possible to extend in more truly
national manner the autonomy of the island
by taking steps to improve its material and
moral welfare. To this end the powers
have agreed upon the following measures:
II. To reorganize the gendarmerie with
out decay and create militia In which the
Cretan and Greek elements can be pro-
excessively developed. with the reservation
that the Greek officers whose assistance Is
accepted shall be struck on the active list
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