File No. 871/5–6.
Minister Jackson to the Secretary of State.
Athens, December 4, 1906.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a letter received a short time ago from a certain Mr. Philippe C. Dockos, of Canea, Crete, who would like to be appointed honorary American consul in that island. I have informed Mr. Dockos that I have nothing to do with the protection of American interests in Crete, and that I do not think it likely that the department is considering the question of appointing any American representative there. I understand that such American interests as may exist are looked after by the British consulate-general, the late incumbent of which, Mr. Esme Gordon Howard, has just been designated as councilor of the British embassy at Washington. Crete is nominally Turkish, of course, but the foreign consular officials there communicate with the diplomatic representatives of their respective countries in Greece, and the administration of the country is becoming more and more Greek. Under the circumstances I have the honor to request instructions as to whether I am at liberty, on a convenient occasion, to visit the island for the purpose of informing myself in regard to actual conditions, without such a visit being considered as an absence from my post.
Since the arrival in Crete of Mr. Zaimis (dispatch No. 451, of October 2, 1906), the island has enjoyed relative quiet. This is due in part of course to the approach of winter, but it is also due to a certain extent to the personality of Mr. Zaimis and the confidence which is felt in his intention to act for the best interests of both the island and Greece. On his arrival a political amnesty was declared and on the coming together of the national assembly measures were considered looking to the amendment of the constitution in order to make it conform to the new situation. Preparations are going on to carry out the measures prescribed by the powers in their several notes of last summer, and for the present matters are progressing quietly.
I have, etc.,