Mr. Tuckerman to Mr. Seward.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your dispatches of October 24, Nos. 11 and 12, the contents of which are duly noted.
The King has convoked an extraordinary session of Parliament, which commenced its sittings yesterday. During this session the government will endeavor to pass certain measures of relief, necessitated by the present unfortunate condition of the finances. The most important of these is the proposed loan of a million of pounds sterling, upon which no definite action was taken at the last session. Should this fail, and the present unsatisfactory relation continue between the government and the national banks, it is not improbable that the former will carry outrits threat to issue a paper currency, in the hopes of “tiding over” the existing deficiency. It is scarcely necessary to say that such a course, without a basis of national wealth to sustain these paper promises, would be suicidal. In imitating the acts of greater nations in their hour of need, the Greeks do not sufficiently investigate the differences of condition on the relations of cause and effect.
The public mind has been much disturbed lately by the increasing numbers of returning emigrants to Crete. The opposition hold the government responsible for the humiliating fact that Greece offers no inducement for these refugees to remain, but virtually plays into the hands of Turkey by favoring their departure. I do not think there is the slightest desire on the part of this government to yield a single point in the principle maintained by the Greek people in the Cretan question; but in view of the absolute necessity for economy, and the restlessness of the emigrants themselves, who are illy provided for, and whose friends at home encourage the idea of their return, the government offers no impediment to this backward movement. That these poor creatures desire any change from their present condition is evident from the fact that many hundreds have applied through this legation for passage to the United States. If transportation were practicable, these people are not of a class to benefit themselves or the country by such removal. The industrious Cretan need never be a beggar; unfortunately, these refugees consist mostly of persons who, by age or infirmities, are unable to help themselves. Within a few days public spirit has revived under the reports that a large army of volunteers are about to proceed from Greece to Crete to infuse new vigor into the insurgent cause. The fact is, that about three hundred armed volunteers have actually left, and this number will probably be increased from other parts of Greece to one thousand, under the leadership of a well-known chief. The new French minister, Baron Bande, has submitted to the Greek government a proposal from a French company to cut a canal through the Isthmus of Corinth. Such a project, as you are aware, has been often mooted, but the present may possess elements which give it probability of fulfillment.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.