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130 IVAJR PARTY IN POWER AT SPARTA [v until the Lacedaemonians had fulfilled their part of the contract. The Lacedaemonians replied that they had done what they could. They had delivered up the Athenian prisoners who were in their hands, and had withdrawn their soldiers from Chalcidice ; they had neg- lected nothing which la}' within their power. But they could not give up Amphipolis, of which they Were not entirely masters ; they would however try to bring the Boeotians and Corinthians into the treaty, to get back Panactum, and recover all the Athenian captives who were in the hands of the Boeotians. They still continued to insist on the restoration of Pylos, or at any rate on the withdrawal of the Messenians and Helots, now that the Lacedaemonians had withdrawn their troops from Chalcidice ; the Athenians might, if they liked, garrison the place themselves. After many long conferences held during the summer, they persuaded the Athenians to withdraw the Messenians, Helots, and Lacedaemonian deserters : these the Athenians settled at Cranii in Cephallenia. So during this summer there was peace and intercourse between Athens and Sparta. 36 Before the following winter the Ephors under whom the New Ephors come peace was Concluded were succeeded ittto office, ivho are vi by others, of whom some were //le interest of the war .11 j ^ -i t^ ■ ^. panv. They suggest actually opposed to It. Durmg the thai the Boeotians shall winter, embassies from the allied first join the A rgive and states arrived at Sparta, including Corinlliian alliance and ^ ^. c ^^ n then reconcile the Ar- representatives of Athens, Boeotia, gives with the Lacedae- and Corinth. Much was said with tnonians. pg result. As the ambassadors were departing, Cleobulus and Xenares, the Ephors who were most desirous of renewing the war, entered into a private negotiation with the Boeotians and Corinthians, recommending them to unite as closely as possible, and suggesting that the Boeotians should first enter the Argive alliance and then try and make the Argives, as well as themselves, allies of the Lacedaemonians. The