The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-06-24
MO.lsms In CSstan Assembly.

Ambassador 10 Athens has informed the
Porte, will be admitted 20 the Cretau
Assembly without taking the oath Of
allegiance 20 the King 81 Greece. The
Cretans in making this concession sub
init 10 the demands Of the four protecting
Powers that have been looking after the
interests Of the island. II h believed
that this IL only a measure Of expcdience
and that II will have little more effect
than to tide over the most recent phase
II a question that has for years been
an unpIelsantly complicated one ioT
Europe.
Al the opening Of the Cretan Chamber
last month the Christian representatives
aroused the anger II the MOslem depu-
ties by refusing them their seats unless
they would take the oath oi allegiance
and by tearing up in their presence the
protests which they presented. The
Cretans protessed that their hostility 20
the Moslem deputies was due less 10 the
refusal IN take the oath than TO the resO-
luton which their leaders introduced,
Affirming that the action Of the Christian
deputies in taking this step was an in
fringcment NJ the Ottoman sovereignty.
They also claimed that the Moslems
were being used A. instruments. a. IN the
DAYS before the expulsion Of the Turks
by the Powers. and that they intended
n make Use II their presence IN the
Chamb 'r only for the purpose Of obstrIic-
ton and for the creation Of disturbances
which would disrrc,iit the C-etans and
give an opportunity for outside inter-
vcnt.Ou.
The Crctans were no doubt endcavor-
ing to fore the hand Of the Powers BY
their acton. hut in this respect they were
not alone. for the Turks were insisting
just as urgently UPON final settlement
Of the question While the Crctans were
wishing ~ be- rid Of the last vcstigc Of
Ottoman sovereignty, and 20 become a
Part Of the Greek Kingdom the TURKS
we're anxious 20 confirm their authority
over the island. and to put an end
forever % the talk ~ Greek anne1a-
ton To place tho blame for the onn-
tinued existence Of this situation 80
dangerous - European peace would b.
difficult. While il NAV ie primarily
with the Crrtans, a strongly contnbut-
ng cause il the dilltrrv policy pursued
by the Powers IN dealing with tho
matter
The condition Of affairs IN crete was
taken advantage ~ m tho Ottoman
Empire O. stir up the racial strife that
the Government itself is trying ~
hard q suppress 40 several places
there were conflicts between Greek and
Turk colonies. and at PlrBus a Greek
mob attacked a steamer in order to
rescue a deScrter. and IN the squabble
some Turks werr roughly handled
Greeks living along tho Turkish border
maintained that a movement was or
gani2ed anon the Young Turks IT
-uNWlNA ~ NV Nil' AlNrNalN ~ wa
alsp charged that Turkish officials in
adjusting ihr ALBANIAN uprising had
PLAYED upon the Alhanlans well known
hatred Of the Greeks with promises of a
speedy war upon them in which the Al
banians were 10 have a lively part
Tho possibility that this constant fric-
ton might lead to a war between Greece
and Turkey called down considerable
criticism on the four protecting Powers
As much NJ this criticism came from
Austria and Germany IL was deeply re-
sented. especially in England and France
Regarding one of the reports. that
England had cspouScd the Cretan cause
~ against Turkey. Sir EDWARD GREY.
the Secretary 81 state for Foreign A.
fairs made a statement in Parliament n
the effect that England had always acted
in full agreement with the other protest
ing Powers and that the assertion which
has been ~ confidently made in certain
quarters that hrs Maiestys Government
holds different view from that Of others
NJ those Powers is entirely without ioun-
datipn he declared that the four
Powers adhered. as they have from the
first, n the policy Of which the mainte-
nance of autonomy il a part. but the
maintenance NJ the NIzerainty NJ the
Sultan IS another and not lcSs essential
part Of the same policy, and ~ II course
Is the protnction IT Moslem Crctans
from oppression By their fellow country
men.
In spite n this protestation IT good
faith, however, II Is apparent that the
Powers have accomplished little toward
bringing about a condition 81 tranquility
in Crete. The people are now no more
willing IN accept Turkish domination
than they were when II was first thrust
upon them, and the policy that the Pow
eE have pursued seems only 10 have
increased their discomfort. Their sub |
mission 10 the present hand 10 mouth |
measure promises little toward solu- !
ton ~ the Creian problem.
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