File No. 871/52–54.
Minister Moses to
the Secretary of State.
[Extract.]
American Legation,
Athens, August 24,
1909.
No. 20—Greek Series.]
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith
copy, with translation, of the second communication to Greece, delivered
August 13, copy of the reply of Greece thereto, delivered August 18, and
copy of the communication of the Greek Government to the ministers of
the protecting powers at Athens, dated August 18, 1909.
In Crete turbulence appears to have subsided. A force of sailors from the
powers’ fleet prevented the raising of the Greek flag on the fortress at
Canea on Wednesday morning, August 18, and cut down the staff from which
the flag had flown. This disposition of the flag episode seems to have
been satisfactory on all hands. The provisional Government is preparing
for the election of a new Chamber; and the status quo recognized by the
joint note of the powers prior to the withdrawal of their troops is
maintained.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure
1.—Translation.]
Second note of the Turkish Government to Greece,
delivered August 13, 1909.
Telegram received. We learn with regret that the president of the
council wishes to demonstrate the correctness of the policy pursued
by Greece toward the Empire. His excellency endeavors proof of this
in the admission attributed to the Imperial Government. The repeated
steps we have taken, through the medium of our minister at Athens as
well as through that of the royal legation at Constantinople, in
protest to the Royal Government against the behavior of Hellenic
agents, the established presence in Roumelia of Greek officers in
disguise, and the dispatch of a large quantity of contraband arms,
are all proofs in support of our just complaints. As for the Cretan
question, that is the concern, in fact of the Sublime Porte and the
protecting powers alone. Greece has nothing to do with it. Since the
attitude of the Hellenic Government has not hitherto been above
reproach our only desire has been to induce it to make a clear and
frank declaration along the lines laid down in my preceding
communication,
[Page 343]
with a view
to the removal of all occasion for misunderstanding between the two
countries. The reply of the honorable the president of the council
has been entirely unsatisfactory on this point. We have full
confidence in his conciliatory disposition, and are desirous of
having a reply in consonance with our first communication.
[Inclosure
2.—Translation.]
Reply of Greece, delivered August 18,
1909.
We observe with the liveliest regret that even after our reply to the
communication which has been made by your excellency in the name of
the Imperial Government, Turkey presses her complaints regarding the
attitude of the Royal Government in both Roumelia and Crete.
There can be no doubt that the anarchy which has for so long a time
afflicted one of the Roumelian Provinces in particular has given
rise to many misunderstandings; and no one can lament more than we
the disturbance which has decimated and ruined those peoples without
regard to race or religion. Accordingly when a new state of affairs
gives hope of reestablishing order we are making every effort to
facilitate, as far as in us lies, the task which the Imperial
Government has to face. The measures taken by the Royal Government
prove its resolute decision not to diverge in the smallest degree
from this line of conduct.
Touching Crete, the Imperial Government must surely admit that, in
its preceding declarations, far from considering our former attitude
as not above reproach, it has again and again declared the strict
correctness thereof. Nevertheless, we take advantage of the
opportunity given us by the Imperial Government’s new communication
to declare that the Royal Government will shape its conduct in all
respects in conformity with the decisions of the protecting powers,
refraining from encouragement of all agitation which might hereafter
occur in the island.
We hope that after these explanations the Imperial Government will
acknowledge the honest purposes of Greece toward the Empire, and
that it will have no cause for the continuance of misunderstandings
so disastrous for the interests of the two countries.
[Inclosure
3.—Translation.]
The Greek Government
to the four protecting
powers.
In response to the proposition of the great protecting powers the
Royal Government hastens to submit for their high appreciation the
following considerations in reply to the communication which the
Imperial Ottoman Government has addressed to it on the subject of
the attitude of Greece in both Macedonia and Crete.
(Here follows text of the Greek note of this date to the Turkish
Government.)
