THE CRETAN QUESTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2582, 17 August 1909, Page 5

THE CRETAN QUESTION.

GOVERNMENT RESIGNS. WORSHIPS PROCEEDING TO CRETE. United Press Association —Copyright LONDON, August 15. The Cretan Government has handed in its resignation, owing to the failure of its efforts at persuasion, and being unable to lower the Greek flag hoisted by the Cretans at Canea fortress. More warships have been ordered to Crete, and the Powers will remove the flag unless the Cretans in the meantime remove it.

The Greek newspapers unanimously urge Cretans to respect the wishes of the Powers.

REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT SPREADING. POWERS THREATEN RE-OCCU-PATION. f (Received August 16, 10.20 p.m.) LONDON, August 16. The Greek officers commanding the Cretan militia were recently hooted and expelled from their quarters when they endeavored to prevent the hoisting of the Greek army flag. A movement instigated by the revolutionary leaders is spreading to other posts. The protecting Powers threaten to re-ocoupy -the island.

In anticipation of the withdrawal of the protecting Powers’ troops, the Turkish Government at the end of June addressed a circular Note to the signatory Powers of the Treaty of Berlin, sugegsting that a conference should be hefd to discuss the amount of autonomy to be granted to the island when the evacuation was accomplished. The French Government, however, did not consider the time opportune for discussing the subject, and it was understood that Britain took up a similar attitude. A recent issue of the Vienna journal Fremdenblatt recently concluded an official discussion of the Cretan question as follows:—“The difference between the Turkish and the Greek view may best be summarised by saying that Turkey is striving for effective suzerainty over Crete, whereas Greece wishes to concede to Turkey only a nominal suzerainty. The four protecting Powers (Britain, France, Russia, and Italy) will now negotiate with Turkey for a settlement of this question. The standpoint which Austria-Hungary must take up has been determined from the beginning. In regard to the Cretan question our Monarchy stands m the second rank, and is not directly interested. Without departing from this reserve, it will support all efforts designed to promote a rapid and satisfactory settlement; and it may well be hoped that the diplomatic intervention of the four protecting Powers will soon reuslt in the solution of the last of the Balkan problems that have arisen since the autumn.”