She boldly defied the Powers, and declared that she would yield only to
superior force.
In replying to the note from the Powers ordering her to withdraw her
troops from Crete, her Prime Minister, Delyannis, said that while Greece
would not leave Crete, there should be no fighting with the Turks unless
an attempt was made by them to carry the war into Greece itself. Unless
the Turks invade Greece, the Greek army would only remain in Crete to
protect the Christians there. If, however, the Powers made matters too
difficult for Greece in Crete, she would of course have to protect
herself.
This reply put Europe in a very difficult quandary. Greece says she is
ready to fight the whole of Europe rather than leave her brothers in
Crete in the power of the Turks.
The Powers, having threatened to make her obey if she refused to comply
with their wishes, are now aghast at the prospect of having to fight with
the heathen Turks against the Christian Greeks, or else steam back to
their respective countries, snubbed and ridiculous.
They have long been conferring together to prevent any further misrule in
Turkey, and to efface this monarchy, which is a disgrace to Europe, and
they find that, by their too hasty interference, they have put themselves
in the position of having to uphold the Turkish misrule against their own
convictions.
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