SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT (Monmouth, W.), who, on returning after illness, was received with cheers from both sides of the House, said: I beg leave to ask the First Lord of the Treasury the following Questions:—First, whether he will state on what date the Turkish troops will be withdrawn from Crete; secondly, whether it is the present intention of Her Majesty's Government to employ the forces of the Crown in a blockade of Greece; and, thirdly, whether Her Majesty's Government will make to the House of Commons a statement on the present situation of affairs in Crete and in Greece, and on the policy of the Government in relation to that situation? [Cheers.]
THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR, Manchester, E.)Before answering the right hon. Gentleman, he will perhaps allow me to congratulate him on his return to the House. [Cheers.] We have, as the right hon. Gentleman is aware, represented to the Porte the advisability of withdrawing the Turkish troops, and, without doubt, that end will be eventually secured. No date can, however, yet be fixed—if for no other reason—because at present there are not sufficient European forces in the island to protect Moslem non-combatants, or, indeed, completely to control the armed irregulars. As regards the second and third questions, I have to say that if it appears necessary for the maintenance of peace, Her Majesty's Government will not hesitate to join the other Great Powers in blockading Greece — [Ministerial cheers]—but, in the meanwhile, the Powers are making a joint declaration at Athens and Constantinople by which that great end—the end of the maintenance of peace—may, I trust, be attained. The declaration is to the effect that in case of conflict on the Greek frontier, the aggressor will be held responsible for all consequences of a disturbance of the general peace, to which the Powers attach the greatest importance; and that whatever be the consequences of the struggle, they will not consent to the aggressor deriving the smallest advantage from it. [Loud cheers.]
THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYWell, Sir, I think the House is realty now in possession of all the material facts both as regards Crete and the general policy of the Government in respect to the preservation of pence on the mainland—[cheers]—which the Government themselves have at their disposal, and I do not know, therefore, that I can with advantage add anything to what 1 have already said.
SIR W. HARCOURTI was very anxious that we should have had a full, statement from the Government of the policy they were intending to pursue, especially having in view the adjournment of the House during the Easier recess — [Opposition cheers] — in the course of which very important events 518 might occur. But as the right hon. Gentleman is not prepared to make any statement to the House—[Ministerial cries of "Oh!"]—and as we deem it necessary in the public interest to elicit the intentions of the Government before the adjournment for the recess, I desire to give notice of a Motion which will secure a discussion of the situation of affairs for the information of the House and the country. I will move an Address to Her Majesty praying that the forces of the Crown may not be employed against the kingdom of Greece or the people of Crete. [Opposition cheers.]
THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI am not quite sure whether I apprehend that the right hon. Gentleman means by that to raise a definite Vote of Censure upon the Government—[cheers and laughter]—for their policy in regard to the Eastern Question. If he does, of course, I shall be prepared at once to give him Thursday, trusting that it will be possible, in view of the holidays, to keep the Debate within the limits of a single day. But I have already told the right hon. Gentleman that the troops of Her Majesty's Government are at this moment employed in Crete in the protection of the peaceful Mussulman inhabitants, and in the control of the Mussulman irregulars. I have already told him that the blockade of Greece, in which we are perfectly prepared to join, is for the preservation of European peace. On these two issues, I understand, the right hon. Gentleman desires to combat the contention we make, and to move a Vote of Censure. If that be so, I will give him Thursday, hut, of course, not otherwise. [Ministerial cheers.]
SIR W. HARCOURTMy object in asking for a statement from the Government—a statement which has been made by the Governments of other countries on this subject—[Opposition cheers]—was that we might judge of what the intentions of the Government were, and so ask the opinion of the House with reference thereto. But at this moment we are not in possession of information—[cheers and counter cheers]—as to whether or not the Government intend to employ the forces of the Crown against the kingdom of Greece or the people of Crete. [Ministerial cries of "Oh, oh!"] I hope they do not, and in that case, 519 of course, the Motion is not a Vote of Censure upon the Government; but the Motion is necessary from our point of view, in order to obtain an expression of opinion from this House whether or not that would be a proper and wise policy to pursue. We are of opinion that it is not, and we are perfectly prepared and anxious that the opinion of the House should be taken upon that subject; but really the object of this Motion is to obtain from the Government a full statement of their policy and intentions. [Ironical Ministerial cheers.] If the Government were ready, without any Motion of this kind, to make a full statement of their policy and intention, then. I should suspend the Motion. If the right hon. Gentleman had been able to answer my Question in the affirmative—that he would give a statement of the intention of the Government which would cover the interval of the recess, when Parliament will not be sitting—then I should not have made this Motion; but if the Government are not able to do so, I feel bound to present to the House an issue on which the Government will have to declare their intentions. [Opposition cheers.] It is impossible for me at this stage to say that this is a Motion of Censure on the Government. [Ironical Ministerial laughter.] If you will agree with us, of course, it is not a Vote of Censure; but if you disagree from us, well, let us discuss it. [Opposition cheers.] I cannot, in the absence of such a statement, declare that this is a Vote of Censure, but it is a question of the most supreme importance, which, in my opinion, the House of Commons ought to discuss before it separates for the Easter recess. [Opposition cheers.]
THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYIt will be impossible that any debate should extract from the Government further information than that which we have given to the House. We have explained in the very clearest manner the intentions we have both in Crete and in Greece, and if the right hon. Gentleman's Motion is simply limited to asking us again to repeat that which we have more than once said in this House, I confess I do not think the ordinary course of public business 520 should be interrupted for that purpose. [Ministerial cheers.] Of course, if the right hon. Gentleman will put his Motion on the Paper I will give it further consideration, but my present view is that unless the right hon. Gentleman can say that he is prepared to put on the Paper a Motion condemning the policy of the Government—[Ministerial cheers]—it will not be for the public convenience that further time should be, I will not say wasted, but expended in these pointless Debates. [Loud Ministerial cheers.]
SIR W. HARCOURTI will put the Motion down on the Paper, as the right hon. Gentleman has been good enough to say he will consider what course he will take in regard to it. The Motion will be put on the Paper, and the object we have in putting it down and desiring its discussion has been sufficiently explained. It will be for the right hon. Gentleman to take the responsibility of preventing that Motion from being discussed.