About the same time a controversy, begun in the previous year, in regard
to Halonnesus, was renewed. This island had belonged to Athens, but had
been occupied by pirates. At some time not recorded (but probably since
the Peace of 346) Philip had expelled the pirates and taken possession of
the island. He now sent a letter, offering to give Halonnesus to Athens,
but not to _give it back_ (since this would concede their right to it); or
else to submit the dispute to arbitration. He also offered to discuss a
treaty for the settlement of private disputes between Athenians and
Macedonians, and to concert measures with Athens for clearing the Aegean
of pirates. He was willing to extend the advantages of the Peace to other
Greek States, but not to agree that he and Athens should respectively
possess 'what was their own', instead of 'what they held'; though he was
ready to submit to arbitration in regard to Cardia and other disputed
places. He again denied having made the promises attributed to him, and
asked for the punishment of those who slandered him. Hegesippus replied in
an extant speech ('On Halonnesus'), while Demosthenes insisted that no
impartial arbitrator could possibly be found. Philip's terms in regard to
Halonnesus were refused, but the Athenian claim to the island was not
withdrawn.

Philip spent the greater part of 342 and 341 in Thrace, mainly in the
valley of the Hebrus, where he endured very great hardships through the
winter, and founded colonies of Macedonian soldiers, the chief of these
being Philippopolis and Cabyle. He also entered into relations with the
Getae, beyond the Haemus, and garrisoned Apollonia on the Euxine. These
operations were all preparatory to his projected attack upon Byzantium.
(Byzantium and Athens were at this time on unfriendly terms, owing to the
part taken by the latter in the Social War.)