Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-19

q danger to the peace of Europe. due in
great part to the shuffling
Renewed and shifting uncertainties
n.. of the protective powers
England, France. Rus
sia and Italy. The opening Of the Cretan
assembly has been marked by a grave in
cident which has thrilled all Turkey.
When the Christian deputies responded to
the roll call they took the oath of allegi-
ance to George /. King of Greece. The
mosiem deputies refused to take oath and
were thereupon excluded from the cham
Der. Then hubbub arose in Turkey,
Roumelia. Anatolia and Smyrna, whence.
under the inspiration Of the subcommit-
tees OF the union and progressive COM
mittees, kilograms announcing meetings
and resolutions Of protest deluged the
Turkish ministry of the interior.
The address from Smyrna was particu-
larry energetic. and, covered with the
signatures OF both Mussulman and nom
Mussulman, 1t invited the government to
declare war against Greece and to oc-
cupy Thessaly If the rights of Ottoman
sovereignty In Crete were not recognized.
ottoman fleet was ordered to hold itself
in readiness to proceed to Karpathos, a
Turkish island adjacent to Crete
May Ii Rifaat Pasha, in order to an
dressed note to the protective powers
insisting upon the maintenance in Crete
OF the right of Ottoman sovereignty. The
powers replied that the oath Of ne Gre
tan deputies did not modify the status
quo.
Now. if the attitude of the protective
powers is considered weak and vacillating
in the opinion of Europe.
Vaclllating it is not to be wondered
po,,,.,, at that it should be SO
considered i'm Turkey. 1t
is recalled that already the powers had
permitted the Cretan assembly to declare
the island annexed to Greece and the
Cretan deputies and officials 10 take the
oath OF allegiance to King George. The
situation is aggravated by the action OF
the assembly In refusing the admission of
Mussulman members il they did not SUBJ
scribe to the oath to the King of Greece
Greece for her part discl;-ims respon-
sfbility for the action of the Cret as
sembiy.. NJ. Gryparis. Greek minister at
Sonstantinople, has assured the govern
ment or Turkey that his government has
NOT accepted the oath of the Cretan depu-
lies ana therefore cannot be he'll to be Ne
spOnsfble.
Inc Cretan question is by no means
clear. 1t is certain that the protective
powers would not have the air Of pla wing
moe and seek with Turkey If they were
not in possession of certain secrets which
are supposed to give aid and comfort tc
turkey. What these secrets are. no one
is prepared to formulate. but we are as
sureo that Austrla-Hungary and Germany
are greatly interested in urging Turkey
10 mold Greece responsible Another fac.
tlon In the Cretan question is Bulgaria
the porte should accede to these in
nuences and declare war against Greece
the probability of Bulgaria's action Is
apparent. Then there is Roumania to be
considered. to say nothing of Albania.
whose loyalty and submission to Turkey
Is iar from being assured by the recent
military operations.
group OF union and progress. declares
tnat the Ottoman fleet, instead of being
employed In target practice in the sea
OF Marmora. would do better to proceed
10 Suoa bay, whence it might address an
ultimatum to the insurgents. adding that
II the powers cannot maintain the OF
toman interests, Turkey Should defend
them and II the great powers wish they
may nave second Navarin.''
The Independence Beige finds such
language extremely regrettable, because
misleading and capable
AeSIeItaD1e OF leading to misinter-
Ianouave probation Of Turkeys real
interests. 1t is scarcely
possible that Turkey will follow the Ia
nin's suggestion to send nav.I forces ~
Suda bay, since the powers, in order IN
maintain the status quo and save the
right acquired by the Cretans, refused to
ADMIT that Turkey should be included in
the international police ~of Cretan waters
when the international fleets were Obliged
to perform that service. The presence of a
Turkish fleet in Suda bay then would he
the signal of a conflict with the protec-
tive powers.
The correspondent OF the Figaro writes
from Constantinople that the Turks are
really not after the Cretans, but their
anger Is directed principally against Eu-
rope and he refers to the language of
D1ahid Bey, deputy from Constantinopls,
who said: 1.-The disdain of the
Cretans for the powers diminishes the
confidence the Ottomans had in the lat
yer: We confided our rights to their
keeping: they have failed to cause them
to be respected: Their attitude discloses
weakness and fear-to be silent is to be
cowardly enough! Patience has its linn
Its. Turkey has been liberated from their
control by the provocation OF the Gre
tans. Let us do our duty. then. though
We invite a new Navarinr' =
In 1866 the Turks sent to Crete TO COM
bat the revolution there 100000 men and
forty ships Of war. They Dvere power
less to suppress the rebellion even with
this great force. In 1859 Omar Pasha.
who had $1,000 men. was Obliged to ask
the khedive Of Egypt for reinforcements.
In 1878 the Turks were defeated at Isl
vara- In 1896 at the siege of Vamos the
Mussulmans were superior i'm numbers and
armament: nevertheless the struggle was
maintained. although the Turk was at
nome. What would be the result today
when the mere attempt to debark in
crete would be met by very grave diff
kaourzada Efendi, Cretan known
because OF his opposition to annexation
with Greece. said recently
Costly that if the Turks wished to
S.o. retake Crete 1t would cost
them a siege of ten years
and necessitate a force of 10000 men
and numerous feet. The expense would
exceed a milliard francs.
Perhaps Kaourzada may exaggerate the
difficulties. but the facts as We know
them are sufficiently grave. The most
Turks understand the sit
uation fun well, and that is the reason
they would prefer to direct their re-
prisals against Greece. Greece appears to