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 Great Powers took some steps towards mediating between the Porte and its dependency, and though they eventually declined any further responsibility in the matter, it was through their influence that the Sultan was induced, in the course of the autumn of 1867 and the spring of 1868, to grant to the island, by way of constitution, an Organic Law, which in its completed form was read to the General Assembly on 15th February of the latter year.

The Cretans remained dissatisfied, and stated their grievances to the Conferences held at Paris in 1869, and at Constantinople in 1876.

By Article 23 of the Treaty of Berlin, ‘The Porte undertakes scrupulously to apply in the Island of Crete the Organic Law of 1868, with such modifications as may be considered equitable .’

A Firman embodying certain modifications of the Law was accordingly drafted, after conferences between the Sultan's Commissioners and the Cretan Assembly, and was taken out to Crete by the new governor-general, Carathéodory Pasha, towards the end of November 1878. On the 14th of that month it had been laid on the table of the Commission for framing a constitution for Eastern Roumelia; a step which was, however, thought by the representatives of the Powers not to be required by the Treaty.