THE CRETAN QUESTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2580, 14 August 1909, Page 5

THE CRETAN QUESTION.

REFUSAL TO LOWER THE GREEK FLAG. . POWERS THREATEN TO ItEQCCUPY THE ISLANDS.

United Puksb Association —CorYiuaiiT LONDON, August 12. The “Times” *Canea correspondent reports that' the Powers’ intimation that unless the Greek flag be lowered the island will he reoccupied has produced great irritation. Cretans declare that they will all .perish rather than lower tlio flag, which has been nailed to the mast of Canea font. THE CRETANS’ LATEST ATTITUDE WILL YIELD, BUT ASK A SHORT RESPITE. CONSTANTINOPLE, August 13. Turkey demands from Greece a more explicit declaration regarding the Cretan position. Crete has intimated its decision to yield to the wishes of the Powers on the flag question, but asks' a short delay in view of the local excitement.

DIFFICULT TASK FOR THE POWERS. Last year the four protecting Powers —Britain, Russia, France, and Italypromised the High Commissioner of Crete (M. Taimis, formerly Prime Minister of Greece), that the foreign contingents of troops would leave the island by July. It was held that the native gendarmerie would be able to maintain order. But since then Crete has declared for union with Greece, and tho Chamber 'voted in favor of union, and appointed a committee of six to govern tho in the name of-the King of Greece untili the' Greek Government could assume the administration of the island. Tho Powers stated on October 28th that they would give the matter their friendly consideration, and would treat with Tin-key if order was maintained and if protection was accorded to the Moslem element. In view of the soldierlike manner in which Shcvket Pasha, the restorer of the Constitution, now states the case for Turkey, the task of the Powers is not an easy one.

—The Case for Greece.— The case for Greece is set out in a communication from “an authoritative Greek source,” which was published in “The Times” in January. It claims that: “The attitude of the Greek Government since the Cretans proclaimed, three months ago, the union of their island with Greece has been strictly correct. In its desire not to add to the difficulties confronting the Great Powers in the Near East, the Government of Athens has taken no steps in respones to the action of tho Cretan people, which followed the Bulgarian declaration of independence.” After recounting the recent history of the island and the events which led to, the proclamation of union with Greece, this communication continues:* —“It is. indeed, perfectly clear that the definite settlement of the Cretan question concerns only the four protecting Poweis into whose hands Turkey was compelled to deliver the island ten years ago without any hope of recovering it; and it is the confidence of Greece in the interest always shown by the Powers in the aspirations of tlio Cretans that has enabled the Government m Athens to use its influence to make the Cretans await patiently the decision of thp Powers. “Every friend of the new regime in Turkey (which has been welcomed more warmly in Greece than in any other Balkan State) cannot but advise the Young Turks'to concentrate their attention on the gigantic task of the, internal reorganisation of the Empire, and to refrain from raising a question whose settlement lies wholly in the hands of the Powers, and whoso discussion cannot but cause grave inisundeistandings between Greeks and lurks in Turkey itself— misunderstandings which must inevitably hinder the work of reform. Considering that Desides the 3,000,000 Greeks of the Hellenic kingdom, there are more than o ; UOO,UUU Greek subjects of the Sultan, it would certainly not contribute to the sucogas of the Turkish Liberal party if they should forfeit the sympathy of th&ir Greek fellow-subjects, whoso aid would be of so much value in their great task.” . . _ . —A Turkish Reply.—

In reply to v this statement, Reshid Sadi Effendi wrote:— “The communique from a Greek authorised source which ‘The Times published last Saturday is not only against facts and their true bearing, but evinces also a Utopian tendency. ~ 10 begin with, no one ignores that tlio password in Crete has always come from Athens, either before or after tho Bulgarian declaration of independence, and it is an open secret that during his last tour in Europe King George did not spare any opportunity to complete the work started long ago by his representatives abroad in view of secuung the union of Crete with Greece. “With regard to the statement that tho definite settlement of the Cretan question only concerns the four protecting Powers, the authorised author of the communique will allow me to observe that as Crete continues to be under the Sultan’s sovereignty there is no Helelnic argument which can forbid those Powers to ignore the voice oi Turkey, to whom, moreover, they have o-iven their solemn assurance to respect the sovereign rights of tho Sultan over the island. . ~ , . - “As to the threatening hint contained in the above-mentioned communique that we may lose the sympathy o 6 000,000 Ottoman Greeks—a grossly oxagerated figure—l beg to state that this would merely mean the. loss of the Hellenic element, since wo could not consider as Ottomans those of our countrymen who would side With Greece at the expense: of the Turkish Empire. No doubt it is flattering to hear from the author of the warm friendship of Greece towards the Young Turks; but considering that the profession of such friendships has just cost Turkey great territorial-losses, wo may be excused if we decline to attach much value to amenities iso _costly. “The history of Turkey is too lull ol mementoes connected with Crete to alJow the Ottoman public opinion to submit meekly to the union of that island with Greece. Nor can the fact that it is principally inhabited by Greeks yustily the realisation of the union, for the same argument would hold good m regard to other Turkish islands whcio the Greek element happens to preponderate. This alone is sufficient pistilication for Turkey to oppose'.the strongest resistance to any attempt to uy hands on Crete.”

CABLE NEWS.