Year: 1868




from Greece and Russia-Turlkish Provin.


cialism as II Is-Defence Of the War Acts


Against Insursents-C0nquest and Nationals


ism In Opposition. @


CoNsTANTINoPLE, April 8, 1858.


On Saturday last, just five weeks after the return
0 the Grand Vizier his report on his mission to
Crete was read at council Of Ministers convened at
the palace AS literary production and state
paper 1t presents another evidence of the ability Of
its author, and may be regarded on the whole as q
very fair expose of the facts connected with the nsur
rectOn since its commencement. considering the in
terested source from which 1t emanates The report
has the following paragraphs


II have not the happiness to lay before your
Majesty the OF the full and entire pacicatiOn OF
every part Of Crete still have the satisfaction OF
that the mission with which have been charged by
your Majesty is by no means failure, as the friends
impresson. both here and in Europe. I have not
the slightest hesitation in giving the assurance that
the measures adopted by order Of your Majesty will
produce the most complete and prompt results If the
transport Of families should finally cease, and will
triumph just as surely, but more tardy, if this re-
assigns three for the insurrecti0n the first Of
which-n fact but the semblance OF preteXt-is the


The second is the giande idee Panhezentq,.e, that
unreaizable Utopia worked to the exclusive profit OF
other ambitions; a ramifcaton of underground work
which mines most European nations by means Of a
new instrument, the principle OF natiOnalities;
dangerous principle which can never be admitted by
Turkey, and which serves in Crete to make religious
war. In fact the Cretans all speak the same Ian
guage, the Mussulmans being as much natives as
the Christians.


The third lies in the pressure exercised upon the
Cabinets, allies Of Turkey, through public opinion de-
ceved by means OF system Of faseho0ds and calum-
MES, prOpagated by the press, which has given rise
to system Of intervention equally new. known
hencefOrth under the name OF salvage OF families,
of action in relieving them of their family cares as
well those cOunsels Of submission which the
presence of the suffering women, children and aged


There is still fourth cause which existed before
all the Others that influences everything in the East,
and which your majesty will recognize by this simple
announcement.


1t would have been better had Aali Pacha frankly
stated to the Sultan that by the conditions Of the
treaty Of 1880 athough the desire Of the Cretans to
be detached from Turkey and incorporated with the
new kingdom Of Greece was refused at that time)
they were admitted to an exceptional and advan-
tageous position over the other populations OF the
empire. And however honest the intentions OF the
imperial government may have been the promised
concessions have not been carried out In coed faith
by Its local representatives in the island in years
past, which has created discomfort and caused re-
volts from time to time among the population, and
to this cause alone must the origin of the present
volt be attributed. This course would also have
given an air Of impartiality to the report which
would have insured for 1t favorable reception
with the European Cabinets, who are fully informed
as to the original causes Of the insurrection, but
perhaps not so well posted In regard to the machna-
tions for keeping 1t alive in the face OF the ample
concessions now for the first time honestly carried
out through the wise adopted by the Grand
vizier.


1t must be admitted also that since the breaking
out Of the insurrecton the support, both moral and
material extended to the insurgents by Greece and
Russia might very properly be made the SUBJ
jcct OF complaints much more fOrcibe than
the mild allusiOn contained In. the report.
With these remarks I will continue the
translation OF the report Of the Grand vzier,
leaving the reader to make his own comments. 1t
is sufficient to each OF these causes In operation
to determine what amount OF influence each exer-
cises on the actual state Of things in Crete and
perceive the obstacles which i'm their arincially CON-
bined aggregate complicated my task before my
arrival At the same time facts themselves protest
against the calumnious accusations which have been
charged against the imperial army and the reproach
of weakness against the government As to the dis
content Of the populations what foundation Is there
for such assertions


Crete Is the most western OF all the provinces Of the
empire. 1t has a mild climate and is rich in its pro-
ductions. All who have seen the island before the
instruction could judge of its real prosperity The
OF its population in spite Of frequent emil
grations Is sufficient proof Taxes were one-quarter
less than In any other province Of the empire. 1t
exceeded in Crete the sum OF forty piastres
for each inhabitant, while in all other places it
amounts to at least sixty piastres This difference
suits from the fact that by special favor the Cretans
were released from any tax on revenue. Liberty Of
worship, so complete In Turkey, was largely ex-
tended In Crete. The Mussulman population, hav-
ing its activity and capital engaged in commercial
and Industrial transactions, were reconcied to tine
fusion Of the two elements on the ground OF material
interests. The complaints addressed TO your Ma
iesty in the petition OF the 14h OF May tends to


firm my statement IN & truth there n, was IS ,S only the
ton OF the 14h Of May are the same who on the 10th
signed the circular to the Powers by which they
demand annexation OF the island TO Greece. We
must then, seek elsewhere the real origin of the In.


In turkey the liberty OF education is no less abso-
lutte than religious liberty. The Hellenique propa-
gandist availed himself of this liberty TO make
preceptors recruited at Athens The teachings OF
political doctrines In vogue in Greece aided by the


preaching Of portion hS Of ,ne clergy t dss native or
Hecnism into the minds OF people ignorant and
easily impressed TO the profit Of an idea the reaza-
an absolute pledge OF Felicity This is the moral
cause OF the insurrection. II to this you would add
the material causes they may be found in the follow


ing facts, the importance Of which wiz strike every
honest mind


Crete amounted to 900 Of pastres and OF this
sum the Mussulman population were the creditors for
more than two-thids. There were besides many
persons having universal interest In shaking of te
yoke Of the government TO get rid Of the obligations
towards the treasury In their quality Of 1.-THE farmers.
Many Of the principal chiefs of bands are In this
position. Sach state Of things gave rise In the
mind Of some TO the thought OF Kidding themselves
of their debt aId inspired the mass OF Christians
with the hope Of enrchiDg themselves at the expense
OF the Mussuhman population who would, 1t was ex-
pected be expelled from the island at the same time
| That annexation with Greece would take place. II
Europe had been aware Of these odous acts, II
| would hsSe been indignant. II then became neces
Greece alone one hundred and seventeen journals In
its service used them very skilfully to impute to
| Mussulman barbarity the destruction Of pro-
| perty. Moreover, the persons killed in battles
| with the imperial troops were represented
| "a innocent victims. Europe believed these
fasehooda systematically circulated 10y the Hellenic
| press with the utmost industry, never suspectinl
| that 10 was the victim OF q speculation on lis goot


have put itself right as to the value Of these calum