Foreign.

Manawatu Herald, 9 July 1896, Page 2

Foreign.

A general amnesty has been proclaimed in Crete, and the Heleppa Convention, which provides for a Christian Governor and officials, is to be revived. Unless, however, the Powers will guarantee the execution of the promised reforms, the Cretans declare that they will proclaim Union with Greece. Mr Curzon, Parliamentary Secretary to the Foreign Office, in answer to a question in the House of Commons on the subject, said England could only intrvenee to (he extent to which the Powers were unanimous. It would he fraught with peril to the peace of Europe for her to act alone. The Consuls have informed the Cretans that they will forfeit the sympathy of Europe unless they accept the concessions of the Porte. The Cretans, have elected a temporary Government, and proclaimed a union with Greece. The Christian delegate to the Assembly has resigned. The Powers are urging Greece to prevent shipments of arms to Crete, and to advise the inhabitants to desist from the defiance of Turkey. A number of the leading rebels are disposed to discuss the modification of the Haleppa Convention. Russia is reported to be seeking to establish a bank at Pekin to collect the revenue and conduct all Chinese Government business. The Porte is massing sixteen battalions of reserves at Arta, on the north-west boundary of Greece, much to the annoyance of the Greek Government.