GKEECE. 



411 



less of a sacrifice of national pride to yield to 

 the advice of a friendly power than to menaces. 

 The French representative prevailed on the 

 Greek minister to make the promise, and M. 

 de Freycinet telegraphed the fact to the differ- 

 ent cabinets. The Continental powers, how- 

 ever, were unwilling to allow France to play 

 the part of the special protector of Greece and 

 make a separate agreement with the Porte. 

 They returned the answer that the assurance 

 came too late and was not sufficiently definite. 



Blockade of the Greek Coast. On April 26 a 

 collective note conveying an ultimatum was pre- 

 sented at Athens. It demanded the demobili- 

 zation of the Greek army within a week ; other- 

 wise Greece would be answerable for the conse- 

 quences. Delyannis declared in a circular note 

 that Greece would not disarm under compul- 

 sion, but was ready to carry out her promise to 

 France. In answer to a deputation of citizens, 

 Delyannis averred that he had promised the 

 French minister to disarm only on the condi- 

 tion that the Greek question should speedily 

 be settled by diplomacy. Freycinet demanded 

 a retraction of this statement, and declared 

 that the promise was unconditional. France 

 then joined the other powers again, renounced 

 separate action, and warned the Greek Gov- 

 ernment of the consequences of further resist- 

 ance. On April 29, M. Delyannis replied to 

 the ultimatum that Greece would not disturb 

 the peace, and would gradually disband her 

 forces within such time as the operation could 

 prudently be carried out. The powers pro- 

 nounced the answer unsatisfactory, and on 

 May 6 demanded a specific statement of the 

 periods required for demobilization. Delyannis 

 replied that he had nothing to add to his former 

 note. The representatives of the powers then 

 left Athens, and a pacific blockade of the coast 

 of Greece was declared. The German, Aus- 

 trian, Italian, and Turkish ministers departed 

 in a demonstrative manner, that was not fol- 

 lowed by the English representative ; the Rus- 

 sian minister was absent in St. Petersburg, 

 and the French minister was summoned to 

 Paris as though on ordinary diplomatic busi- 

 ness. In like manner the German and Aus- 

 trian squadrons steamed out of Suda Bay in 

 regular order, the English vessels in laxer 

 fashion, and the French fleet took no active 

 part in the blockade, which was carried out 

 by the German, Austrian, British, and Italian 

 squadrons, joined later by the Russian iron- 

 clads. The blockade extended to all the ports 

 on both sides of Greece. 



The presentation of the ultimatum had been 

 accompanied by a naval demonstration. M. 

 Delyannis was on the point of yielding to the 

 counsels of M. de Moliy, and making a begin- 

 ning of disarmament, but after the premature 

 appearance of the foreign fleet in the harbor 

 of Phalerum, and more decidedly after receiv- 

 ing the ultimatum, he declared that he could 

 not yield to foreign dictation. He was willing 

 to resign, but Trikoupis held still stronger 



views on the question of coercion, and avowed 

 that he would have to retract the concessions 

 already made, and convene the Assembly. The 

 reply of Delyannis vaguely promising gradual 

 disarmament made the virtual withdrawal of 

 the ultimatum a condition. 



Change of Ministry. M. Delyannis adhered to 

 his decision not to yield to the menaces of the 

 powers, and on May 10 resigned, in order that 

 some one else might relieve Greece of the em- 

 barrassments into which he had brought her. 

 Trikoupis could not undertake to reverse the 

 policy that had been approved by the repre- 

 sentatives of the nation, nor would the powers 

 have accepted an engagement from him not 

 thus ratified. The only course was to form a 

 provisional ministry that would reassemble the 

 Chamber, and endure the evils of the block- 

 ade until a new policy could be evolved in the 

 legislative hall, and a definite answer could be 

 given by a stable ministry, possessing a nation- 

 al mandate, to the demands of the powers. 

 M. Valvis, who was not a politician, undertook 

 the task, and formed a cabinet on May 12. 

 The Chamber was convened, and elected for 

 its president on May 21 the candidate of the 

 Trikoupis party by 139 votes to 78 given for 

 M. Delyannis. The Valvis ministry then re- 

 signed, and M. Trikoupis accepted the office of 

 Prime Minister. 



Collision on the Frontier. The day after the 

 vote in favor of Trikoupis and a peace policy, 

 some of the Greek troops on the frontier 

 attempted to precipitate a conflict with the 

 Turkish army. A volunteer body of mount- 

 aineers called the Ezvones, who have a high 

 reputation for courage, began to fire on the 

 Turks along the line from the ravine of Zevia 

 to the sea. Trikoupis, immediately upon tak- 

 ing office, gave orders to General Sapunzachi, 

 the commander-in-chief at Larissa, to stop the 

 fighting. He sent word to the charges d'af- 

 faires at the different legations that the firing 

 was unauthorized. The Turkish charge d'af- 

 faires informed his Government of the true 

 state of things. The following day the attack 

 was resumed, and the Turkish outposts were 

 driven back, but wherever the tire was galling 

 the Turks executed counter-attacks. A num- 

 ber of small fights were developed between 

 Analipsis and Koutra. At Gortzvali the Greek 

 intrenchments were twice assaulted, and re- 

 enforcements were brought up to carry the 

 position. At Koutra, Major Lory attempted, 

 with two companies, to drive the Turks from 

 a height, but he was outflanked, was badly 

 wounded himself, and nearly all of his men 

 were killed, wounded, or taken prisoners. 

 Major Staikos, who witnessed the fight, led a 

 counter-attack on the Turkish base. At this 

 stage the fighting was stopped, late in the 

 afternoon, by orders of General Sapunzachi, 

 and soon white flags were displayed all along 

 the line, and communication was established 

 between the Greek general and Eyub Pasha, 

 who commanded the Turkish forces. The lat- 



