GREECE AND THE BALKAN STATES 1025 



and the appearance of insurgent bands in Macedonia, which were aided and in part re- 

 cruited by sympathizers in Bulgaria, Servia and Greece, while Albania broke into 

 open revolt. The various nationalities, which the artful policy of Abdul Hamid had 

 maintained in a state of mutual hostility, began to discover that their only hope of pre- 

 serving their rights, and indeed their existence lay in combination against the common 

 foe. The reconciliation began among the Greek and Bulgarian peasants; in course of 

 time better relations began to prevail between the clergy and upper classes on both sides, 

 which had hitherto been implacably hostile, and ultimately the governments of Athens 

 and Sofia entered into friendly discussions. A close understanding resulted, and the 

 foundations of the future Balkan alliance were laid. 



The crisis which arose over the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria- 

 Hungary came to an end in April 1909 with the recognition of the annexation by the 



Powers. At the same time Montenegro, which had formed an alliance 

 Montenegro: w ith Servia during the period of tension, succeeded, through the good 

 Antivari. offices of Italy, in obtaining from Austria-Hungary and the Powers the 



abrogation of various restrictions imposed on her tenure of the port of Anti- 

 vari by Article XXIX of the Berlin Treaty. It was arranged that Antivari should 

 retain the character of a commercial port, but the administration of the maritime police 

 on the Montenegrin coast by Austria-Hungary, the closure of Antivari to ships of war 

 of all nations, and other irksome provisions of the treaty, were abandoned. 



The decision of the four Protecting Powers of Crete to withdraw their troops from 

 the island led to considerable excitement in Greece as the date fixed for the evacuation 



(July 27, 1909) approached. It was generally believed at Athens that 

 political agi- the union of the island with Greece would follow immediately upon the 

 tation over departure of the troops, but the Young Turks, now secure of power, assumed 



a threatening attitude, and Mahmoud Shefket Pasha addressed menacing 



language to the Greek Patriarch. The indignation in Greece was intense, 

 especially in the army, and a secret society, known as the Military League, was formed 

 among the officers. After the embarcation of the international contingents, the 

 Cretans hoisted the Greek flag on the forts of Canea and Candia. The Cretan Govern- 

 ment, declaring itself unable to enforce the removal of the flags in compliance with the 

 injunctions of the Powers, resigned, and was succeeded by an executive committee, which 

 at once took an oath of allegiance to King George. The Greek flag at Canea was cut 

 down by a detachment from the international fleet (Aug. i8th), while that at Candia 

 was removed with some difficulty by the local authorities on the following day. Mtan- 

 while the Porte in two Notes (Aug. 8th, Aug. i3th), demanded from Greece categorical 

 declarations with regard to her intentions both as regards Crete and Macedonia, and 

 received replies which were stated to be satisfactory. The Powers had already (July 

 1 3th) addressed a memorandum to Turkey declaring their resolve to maintain her " su- 

 preme rights " in Crete; they now, at the suggestion of Great Britain, interpreted these 

 words as implying the sovereignty of Turkey, although on March 17th, 1897, they had 

 " irrevocably decided " to recognize her "suzerainty" only. 



The disappointment felt in Greece at the postponement of the union, the humiliation 

 inflicted by Turkey and the tergiversation of the Powers combined to bring about a 

 Revolt of crisis. On the night of August 27, 1909, a number of officers belonging 

 the Military to the Military League marched out of Athens with some 2000 men and 

 League at occupied a hill in the suburbs. Their demands included a series of radical 



reforms in the army and navy, the exclusion of the Crown Prince and his 

 brothers from military commands and a number of other changes. M. Ralli, the prime 

 minister, who had succeeded M. Theotokis on July 2oth, resigned and was replaced by 

 M. Mavromichalis. The new government undertook to carry out the greater part of 

 the programme of the League; its leader, Colonel Zorbas, was appointed to the command 

 of the troops at Athens, and the royal princes withdrew from the army. The movement 

 was not antidynastic, but aimed at putting an end to the prolonged maladministration 

 which had involved the country in so many misfortunes. In effect Colonel Zorbas 



