File No. 871/20–23.
Minister Moses to
the Secretary of State.
[Extract.]
American Legation,
Athens, July 16,
1909.
No. 6—Greek Series.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that the note
of the four protecting powers, in re the Cretan situation, was delivered
at the Greek ministry for foreign affairs on Tuesday, the 13th instant,
and to inclose a copy of the document, with an English translation.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure
1–Translation.]
communication made unofficially and verbally
to the greek ministry fob foreign affairs by the representatives
of great britain, france, italy, and russia, july 13,
1909.
The Governments of France, Great Britain, Italy, and Russia,
appreciating the correct atitude maintained by the Hellenic
Government during the course of the serious events that have just
taken place in the Orient, have charged their representatives at
Athens to communicate to the latter in a semiofficial manner a
declaration which is made by the former to the Ottoman Government on
the subject of Crete.
In making this communication the four powers trust that the spirit of
prudence which has up to this time governed the counsels of the
Hellenic Government will lead it to undertake loyally to accept the
situation sanctioned by the decision of the powers and to recognize
that any modification which might be interpreted as a provocation to
Turkey would certainly be less favorable to Crete, as well as to
Greece, than the present state of things.
[Page 339]
[Inclosure
2—Translation.]
identic notes presented june 30–july 13,
1909, to the ottoman government by the representatives at
constantinople of the protecting powers in crete.
The Governments of the protecting powers of the island of Crete have,
by common agreement, settled upon the following arrangements:
The detachments of international troops shall be withdrawn on the
13th–26th July. Before this withdrawal is effected the four powers
will send each a station ship to Suda Bay, to be maintained there
for the purpose of keeping watch over the Imperial Ottoman flag and
the flags of the four powers, as well as to guarantee the security
of the Cretan Mussulmans.
A proclamation, of which the text is hereto annexed, is addressed,
under date of this day, to the population of the island by the
consul general of the four protecting powers at Canea.
The presence of the station ships at Suda Bay will be an evidence of
the maintenance of the sovereign rights of His Majesty the Sultan
over the island and of the protection of the four powers.
Since the present statu quo can not be considered as a final
solution, the Governments of the four powers will not relax their
active concern for Crete, while awaiting a moment more favorable for
negotiating with the Sublime Porte upon the subject of the future
administration of the island.
By order of his Government, the undersigned has the honor to bring
the above to the attention of the Imperial Ottoman Government.
[Inclosure
3—Translation.]
declaration of the consuls general of the
protecting powers in crete, made june 30–july 13,
1909.
The consuls general of France, Great Britain, Italy, and Russia, in
the name of their Governments, declare that, in pursuance of the
exercution of measures settled upon in principle by the collective
note of the protecting powers of the 10th–23d July, 1906, and
summarized in that addressed to Mr. Zaimis on April 28–May 11, 1908,
the powers will effect on the 13th–26th of this month the complete
withdrawal of their troops, reposing confidence in the discretionof
the Cretan people; and that they reckon upon the energy and loyalty
of the constituted authorities for the maintenance of public order
and the security of the Mussulman population; that they will not
relax their active concern for the Cretan question, but that they
consider it indispensable that their duty of watching over the
maintenance of order and the security of the Mussulmans in Crete
shall not be forgotten; and that to this end they reserve to
themselves the privilege of taking whatever measures they may
consider proper for the reestablishment of order in case there
should arise disturbances which the local authorities might be
unable to repress.
