Page 256 - Le Operazioni Interforze e Multinazionali nella Storia Militare - ACTA Tomo I

256 XXXIX Congresso della CommIssIone InternazIonale dI storIa mIlItare • CIHm

For Austria-Hungary the peace mission had been quite a costly affair, as the annual
63
naval budget of 14 million fl. was burdened with an additional 20.000 fl. per month.
Until July 1897 105.000 florins had been spent extraordinarily; and the transport of the
2 battalion on the Lloyd steamer had cost another 25.000 fl. 64
nd
After the withdrawal of their forces, Austria-Hungary and Germany left the admin-
istration of Crete to the other four great powers, now called the “Crete Powers”. Nev-
ertheless, the two countries were still involved in the legal decision-making process
concerning Crete and actively participated in it.
When in early September 1898 unrests initiated by the Muslims of Candia broke out
causing a massacre among the Christian population with 500 casualties, the admirals
used the opportunity to demand the withdrawal of all troops and administrative authori-
ties of the Ottoman Empire and the definite appointment of a governor as well as the
eventual disarming of the bashibazouks. As also British soldiers and the British vice
consul were attacked and killed and 40 British partly severely wounded, the British
commander, whose contingent had been reinforced by troops from Malta and Egypt to
5,000 men, turned down the rebellion in his sector. The Ottoman troops and Ismail Bey
remained completely passive. 65
After having sent another collective note to the Sublime Porte on 5 October 1898
“inviting” it to withdraw all its troops from Crete, Italy took over the lead in expelling
the Ottoman forces from the island. By 15 November the last Ottoman soldiers had left
the island. 66
In December 1898 the four remaining powers agreed to end the blockade imposed in
March 1897 as the situation on the island had improved.
Also in December 1898 Prince George became High Commissioner of Crete. He
was obliged to guarantee the suzerainty of the sultan and was entrusted with the task to
establish an autonomous government which was to guarantee equality, security and free
religion to all inhabitants of the island. After Prince George had taken over, the Admi-
rals’ Council was dissolved, the blockade finally lifted and the number of ships reduced.
Prince George was replaced as High Commissioner by Alexandros Zaimis in 1906, and
in 1908, taking advantage of domestic turmoil in the Ottoman Empire, the Cretan deputies
unilaterally declared the union with Greece. However, this union was not recognised inter-
nationally until 1 December 1913.

63 Lawrence Sondhaus, The Naval Policy of Austria-Hungary 1867-1918. Navalism, Industrial Development,
and the Politics of Dualism, West Lafayette, Indiana, Purdue University Press, 1994, p. 132.
64 See Kriegsarchiv, MKSM 69-3/1-8 ex 1897.
65 HHStA, PA XII 292, Liasse XXXVIII Kretensische Frage 1898 VIII-XI, unfol.: telegrams Pinter, Canea, 6.
and 7.9.1898; ibid., unfol.: telegram SM Schiff “Leopoard”, Canea, 6. and 7.9.1898. As a consequence of the
„alarming news from Candia“ Consul Pinter asked the Austro-Hungarian warship „Kaiser Franz Joseph I.“,
the only ship still remaining in Cretan waters for the protection of Austro-Hungarian citizens and institutions,
to go to Candia for the protection of the Austrian and German citizens living there. Ibid., unfol.: telegram
Pinter, Canea, 20.9.1898.
66 HHStA, PA XII 292, unfol.: telegram Pinter, Canea, 9.11.1898; ibid., unfol.: Pinter to Gołuchowski, Canea,
18.11.1898. See also Zürrer, Die Nahostpolitik Frankreichs und Rußlands, p. 392; Verosta, Kollektivaktionen
der Mächte des Europäischen Konzerts, p. 174f.