Page 244 - Le Operazioni Interforze e Multinazionali nella Storia Militare - ACTA Tomo I

244 XXXIX Congresso della CommIssIone InternazIonale dI storIa mIlItare • CIHm

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down. Also in the weeks to come the situation was characterized by mutual killings,
looting, the burning down of houses and whole places, panic-ridden situations, reprisals
and chastened mood due to mutual misunderstanding.
In contrast to Gołuchowski, who again proposed a peaceful blockade of Crete in
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cooperation with the Ottoman Empire , the other great powers were still in favour of ap-
plying diplomatic means at first. The British Foreign Minister Robert Gascoyne-Cecill
Lord Salisbury still vehemently objected any form of intervention, as with respect to the
public opinion in Britain “under no circumstances” Britain wanted to be taken for an ally
of Sultan Abdul Hamid. 17
The permanent Ambassadors’ Conference of the great powers at Constantinople
played a decisive role in the struggle for a diplomatic solution. In August 1896 the am-
bassadors drafted an ordinance, which included far-reaching measures:
• restitution of autonomy according to the Haleppa Convention
• appointment of a new governor general by the sultan for a five-year period with the
consent of the great powers
• election of a provincial government, which was to be convened every two years and
should deliberate on the budget as well as on new laws
• veto power of the governor against laws of the General Assembly
• introduction of a new judicial system and reorganization of the gendarmerie with the
support of European commissions
18
• two thirds of the public offices were to be given to Christian Cretans.
According to this new ordinance also three international commissions were to be
established on Crete: two for the re-organisation of the gendarmerie and the system of
justice and one supervisory commission consisting of the consuls of the great powers. 19
The Sublime Porte only reluctantly promised to carry out the demands of the am-
bassadors’ ordinance as it feared that these concessions could encourage other national
groups within the Empire to demand more autonomy as well.
In January 1897 again heavy clashes broke out between the Christians and the Mus-
lims on the island and within a short time they became more and more vigorous. After
Muslims had attacked a Christian notable in the town of Canea and had killed him,
Christian Cretans burned Muslim villages in the night of 1 to 2 February as revenge.
They rioted against the inhabitants, who fled to the towns of Canea, Retimo, and Candia.
20
There were heavy street fights with high losses on both sides. The Austro-Hungarian
15 HHStA, PA XII 278, unfol.: telegram Commando SM Sch. Maria Theresia, Canea, 19.7.1896; ibid., unfol.: 2
telegrams Pinter, Canea, 20. and 21.7.1896; ibid., unfol.: Pinter to Gołuchowski, Canea, 23.7.1896.
16 HHStA, PA XII 278, unfol.: Calice to Gołuchowski, Büyükdere, 30.7.1896.
17 HHStA, PA XII 278, unfol.: telegram Clary, London, 30.7.1896.
18 Zürrer, Die Nahostpolitik Frankreichs und Rußlands, p. 344; Verosta, Kollektivaktionen der Mächte des
Europäischen Konzerts, p. 57-59. For a comment of Consul Pinter on the programme see HHStA, PA
XXXVIII 376, unfol.: No. 261/pol., Pinter to Gołuchowski, Canea, 19.9.1896.
19 Pangerl, Participation of the Austro-Hungarian Navy in the Crete Operation 1897-1898, p. 139.
20 HHStA, PA XII 281, fol. 9, 140, 164, 187, 189, 191, 193: telegrams Pinter, Canea, 4., 28., 29.1. and 1., 2.,
4.2.1897; ibid., fol. 18r-23r: Pinter to Gołuchowski, Canea, 7.1.1897.