To His Highness the Grand Vizier:
Your Highness: We, the Undersigned, the Representatives of the Christian population of the Island of Crete, received yesterday (July 19), after a delay of three months, the answer of the Imperial Government to the humble petition we addressed to His Majesty the Sultan, which answer has been transmitted to us through his Excellency the Governor-General of Candia.
It is with great pain that we remark the silence kept in this answer in regard to the chief complaints in our petition—that is to say, on what concerns the tribunals, freedom of worship, personal liberty, the municipal elections, the use of the Greek language, etc.
It is also with pain and astonishment that we have learnt by this answer that not only we have no right to complain of direct and indirect taxes which weigh so heavily upon us, but that we are in a privileged position, in so far as regards other subjects of the empire, in reference to the direct taxes—viz., the one under the denomination of "verghi" and that on sheep.
Highness, we take the liberty to again call your kind attention to the following points:
First. It is all the Christians of Candia, and not some, as it pleases your Highness to say, who think that they cannot in any way be compared to other subjects of the Porte in what concerns the taxes since the period when, by the advice and under the guarantee of the great Christian Powers, the Cretans submitted themselves to the Sublime Porte; and it is notorious that since that period up to a few years ago they have not paid other taxes, direct or indirect, beyond tithes and the military tax, in conformity with the law and decrees. It is true that the duties on exportation diminish gradually from one per cent., as is stated in the answer of the Porte. Nevertheless, in a country like Crete, where there is no industry, the import duties, which still remain the same, neutralize the advantages arising out of the lowering of the export duties. Such being the case, we not only do not enjoy the benefits which your Highness is pleased to mention, but we are still crushed by the exorbitant taxes, which are far above our means, as is evident from the financial report of the last two years, during which time we have paid almost as much in taxes as the amount of our incomes, without enjoying in return any material advantage.
Secondly. In what concerns roads, schools, and hospitals, we do not doubt the benevolent intentions of His Majesty; but the unfortunate inhabitants of Candia see with sorrow that the execution of these generous intentions is indefinitely postponed, notwithstanding the oft-repeated promises of the Sublime Porte.
Thirdly. It is, nevertheless, our sacred duty to protest openly against the reproach addressed to us by your Highness, namely, that we had not made known our complaints to the Imperial Government in a respectful manner; that we had mixed up claims altogether inadmissible with those which might be entertained; and that we had held meetings and made demonstrations which could not be considered otherwise than treasonable by all conscientious and impartial persons. To these reproaches we take the liberty to reply respectfully that in a country like Crete, where there is no press or parliament, and that experience has shown that, whenever and in whatever manner the Christians have sought to obtain justice from the Sublime Porte, their mouths have been shut by intimidation and by low intrigues, we had no other means of bringing our grievances to the knowledge of our Sovereign, and of acquainting him with the real state of the country, beyond a recourse to a peaceable meeting without arms. It is also our bounden duty—we think so, at least—to repeat here that all the Christians in Candia, without exception, took part in this manifestation, and not merely some of the inhabitants, as was said by the Governor-General, and which is believed by your Highness.
It would be absurd, your Highness, almost childish, to assume that the Representatives of the Christian population of Candia have obeyed or obey the suggestions of foreigners, and that the Central Committee is exciting the people and acting in a seditious spirit. Such allegations are only put forward by those impostors and wicked men who, whether Mohammedans or Christians, are imbued with the most hostile feelings towards the Imperial Government and towards the Candiotes, and are only interested in imposing upon the goodness of our gracious Sovereign. It is notorious that the demonstration of the Candiote people is quite spontaneous, and that the assemblage of Cretans, far from compromising public tranquillity, was to upset the projects of such wicked people who seek for any pretext for calumny.
Finally, we, the undersigned, the Representatives of the Candiote people, not considering ourselves as rebels, cannot answer for the future by solemn declarations ("senets") in the name of a people which has only confided to us expressly and in writing a limited authority, namely, to forward its petition and to receive the answer which may be returned thereto.