QUESTIONS—OBSERVATIONS (Hansard, 24 June 1889)

§ * LORD COLCHESTER

My Lords, I have to ask if Her Majesty's Government have any official information as to the alleged disturbances in Crete, or as to difficulties having arisen in the working of the organic statute? My Lords, my object in asking this question is rather to allay, than to excite, any apprehension, as to the recent intelligence will reference to the Island of Crete. Ten years ago the noble Marquess was able to state that, except in a small district claiming special privileges, there was general satisfaction with the constitution, whose establishment was so largely owing to the efforts of the British Consul. Since that time, very little has been heard in this country of the affairs of Crete, which are now exciting much attention. Owing to the smooth working of the constitution, the results have, so far, promised better; but unhappily, on all sides, there is dissatisfaction with the present condition of things. Some of your Lordships may have seen the account given 527 by the correspondent of the Times, of the disputes which have occurred. It is clear that any great disturbance in that island lead to interference by Foreign Powers, which might have a serious effect on the Turkish Government. I have no doubt that the representatives of Great Britain in that country will keep Her Majesty's Government informed of the condition of matters, and I trust the noble Marquess will be able to state to your Lordships that these difficulties are likely before long to be solved peacefully, and that the constitution which promised so much for good, is not likely again to be imperilled.

§ * THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURY

My Lords, in the first place, I may say with reference to the reports to which my noble Friend has alluded, as to the intentions of annexing Crete, in whole or in part, attributed to various Powers, that they are, as far as I know, absolutely without foundation; I have never heard any suggestion of the kind. My noble Friend is quite right in saying that Her Majesty's representatives watch all that passes in the island with very great care and vigilance, and, I may add, with something more than vigilance. I think that the judgment and assiduity with which our Consul's delicate duties are performed have much to do with that island being able to surmount many of the difficult crises in its constitutional existence. The present state of things is happier and more promising than it was a short time ago. There is, I believe, now no -ground for apprehending that any crisis of a serious kind will arise. Very violent dissensions have sprung up from time to time, not confined to the walls of the Assembly, and it sometimes seems as if the fabric of society in Crete would be shaken to pieces. But hitherto the judgment and good sense of the leaders of that country, and I am bound to say also the judgment with which the Governors appointed by the Porte, have discharged on the whole their difficult task, has prevented those violent dissensions from ever coming to a dangerous head. I agree with my noble Friend that anything like the appearance of anarchy in that island would be a matter of concern not merely to its inhabitants and the Turkish Empire, but would also raise questions of some difficulty and serious 528 concern to all who are interested in European peace. The cause of the differences is not entirely attributable to party spirit. There is no doubt that the Assembly is divided into parties which are bitterly opposed to one another, but those parties represent something more than what are ordinarily called political parties. They represent the dissensions of two sections of the community, separate and antagonistic in race, in creed, and in long tradition and we must not expect that that antagonism will be allayed until some generations have passed away. A representative institution can hardly have fair play except in a community which is thoroughly homogeneous, and I am afraid some time must elapse before that can be said of the community of Crete.