Show POWERS PROPOSE PROPOS TO MAUE CRETANS KEE English Fleet Sails From Malta for Port of Athens MALTA Ll Feb 3 The The British battleship battleship battle battle- ship Duncan flagship of n Bear at Admiral Sir Geor George e Astley Callaghan s second in command of the British Mediterranean fleet with the cruiser cruisers Lancaster Minerva a and ana Barham and four torpedo boat destroyers have left here for Piraeus the the por port ol of Athens Greece The dispatch of the British squadron to is indicative of the determination determination deter deter- of the interested powers Great Britain Russia France and Italy Itah- to assure assure as as- sure a strict adherence to the agreement nt under which the international forces were withdrawn from Crete At that time the Cretans solemnly promised to take ake no steps against the sovereignty of Turkey The recent decision decision de do- of King George of Greece to convoke con con- voke yoke a national assembly was followed by reports that the tho Cretans would att attempt at at- t tempt to send delegates to that body Constantinople Uneasy This caused uneasiness at Constantinople Constanti Constanti- nople and it is understood the tho Turkish government assured the powers protecting protecting protect protect- in ing the islands that if the Cretans Cretan were admitted to the Greek national assembly such action would be he regarded by the porte as a casus belli The Tho situation was the subject of an exchange of views at London yesterday several and ministers eon con Sir Edward Gray the British Brit Brit- ish foreign secretary A semi semi semi official official statement issued d at Athens last night declared that the anxieties excited in in Turkey were groundless and that the assembly had been convoked precisely because its sitting sit- sit tin ting would defer the date of the Parliamentary parliamentary parlia parlia- elections which otherwise might have given the thA Cretans an opportunity op to to realize their ambition to sen send l deputies to Athens Nevertheless the movement of the British vessels makes it clear that the powers concerned purpose to prevent any action adion threatening peace in the near east or in any other way disturbing disturb disturb- in lag ing the status quo |