The Cretan problem remains unsolved, the Turkish Govern- ment having
so far received no reply from the four protecting Powers to its suggestions as to the maintenance of their garrisons in Crete, and according to present arrangements the foreign troops will be withdrawn at the end of next month. According to the Times correspondent at Con- stantinople, there is no ground for the assumption that the Turkish Government intend in any way to tamper with the liberties of the Cretans, or the internal affairs of the island. At the same time, there is no sign of wavering on the question of sovereignty, which the new regime could not, it holds, surrender without complete loss of prestige. On the other hand, the irrefragable nature of the Cretans' demand for union has been asserted in the Viennese Press, and anxiety has not been mitigated by a flying visit of King Ferdinand last week, and the presence in the Austrian capital of his Premier. King Ferdinand is credited by the Wiener Allgemeine Zeitung with the desire that his advisers should confer directly with Baron von Aehrenthal on the Cretan question, " since Bulgaria could not regard with indifference a union of Crete with Greece." That sounds like support for the Young Turks, but if they are wise it is support of a kind of which they will beware. Surely Macedonia is worth more than Crete. For the moment order and tranquillity reign in Crete, and the correct attitude of the inhabitants during the crisis has undoubtedly assisted to secure sympathy with their aspirations.
