CRETAN PROBLEM.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 831, 1 June 1910, Page 5

CRETAN PROBLEM.

» IP GREECE INTERVENES. TURKEY MAY HAVE RECOURSE TO ARMS. By Telecraph—Pree« Association—CopyrichtLondon, May 30. The Grand Vizier (Hakki Bey), speaking in the Turkish Chamber of Deputies, said the solution of the Cretan problem was negotiations with the Protecting Powers (Britain, France, 'Russia, and ■Italy), not with Greece and Crete.; Ho added that if Greece, intervened Turkey would bo obliged to havo recourse' to arms. She would not hesitate at any sacrifice to retain Crete. Telegrams from the provinces show that the Cretan question is arousing The Turkish Minister for Marine has resigned owing to a divcrgt-nco of views with the Grand Vizier. Rcutor's agent states that the Young Turk Committee.? at Trebizond andSnmsuu have decreed a boycott 'of Greek shipping, this despite the Porte's disapproval. A mob at Jaffa (in the Turkish Pashalato of Syria) attacked several Greek shops and beat the occupants. ALLEGIANCE TO KING OF GREECE. The "Times" correspondent at Constantinople, writing on April 20, stated: "The Porto has presented an identical Note through its Ambassadors to tho four Protecting Powers, informing them that it has reason to believe that the Cretan National Assc-mbly, which will shortly bo convened, will take the oath in the name of the Kins of the Hellenes. The Ports expresses the confident hope that the I'oMC-rM will prevent any such action." A few wee\s ago it was announced that Christian members of the Cretan Assembly had sworn allegiance to the King of the Hellenes, and decided to exclude Mohammedan members. A day or two later, the 'Porte issued a Note to the Protecting Powers, and the Turkish newspapers demanded that since tho Powers did not safeguard Ottoman rights, the Turkish naval squadron should present an ultimatum to the Cretan insurgents. Sir Edwnrd Grey, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and M. Pichon. French Minister for Foreign Affairs, arc agreed that tho Cretan question ought to be definitely settled on the basis of guaranteeing the island a largo measure of autonomy and compelling it to respect the legal situation which has been defined by Europe, nnd in reply to Turkey's protest against tho action of the Hellenic majority in the Cretan Assembly in declaring allegiance to the Kim,' Df Greece, the Protecting Powers agreed with the Porte's view that the declaration of allegiance was null and void.