At last they thought they had found a safe compromise.
They would demand that the Sultan should give up Crete, which should have
its own government, or _autonomy_, as it is called, with a ruler whom
they, the Powers, should select. Greece must go home with her troops and
her ships, and have nothing hereafter to do with the fate of the island.
This was considered a wise solution of the difficulty. It would satisfy
public opinion in Europe, while at the same time it properly humiliated
Greece, who would be rebuked before all the world.
Again something unexpected happened. The stalwart, stubborn Cretans had
their own views and preferences.
They did not want autonomy at all. What they desired was _union with
Greece_; and Greece declared her unaltered and unalterable determination
to stand by the island at any cost, and to protect her from being coerced
into a political condition she did not desire.
One small, feeble nation dared to stand up and defy the combined power of
Europe!
There was indignation and amazement among the Powers, who after further
consultation sent an ultimatum to Greece and to Turkey. They must both
withdraw from the island of Crete within six days, or the combined fleets
of six European States would compel them to do it.
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