Flawed Venetian Policy

A French memorandum dating to 1661 attributes indifference among the local population to repressive conduct on the part of the Venetians. The author considers that the Venetian authorities should adopt a more lenient, moderate policy towards the Cretans, so as to secure their support in the confrontation with the Ottomans. The memorandum goes on to say that the Cretan contribution may turn out to be crucial to the course of the war. Needless to say, these recommendations were never actually put into practice.