§ MR. KENNEDYsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether cruelties are enacted in Crete at present, such as took place while the insurrection was raging in full force; whether tranquillity may be considered to be now re-established; and if, not, whether the British Government exercise any influence in favour of the Christian population?
LORD STANLEYSir, it is not very easy to obtain accurate and trustworthy information with reference to what is passing in Crete; but I think I may say that many of the stories of the outrages and acts of cruelty which have appeared in the newspapers have been, if not wholly invented, yet very much exaggerated and over-coloured. Generally, I take the state of things in Crete to be this:—The insurrection 706 has dwindled down to very small proportions; but it would be premature to say that tranquillity has been altogether re-established. With regard to the latter part of the Question of the hon. Member, I may say that Her Majesty's Government, have from the first exercised their influence in favour of the Christian population—in favour of giving them a large measure of self-government, and of establishing equality before the Law between the Christian and Mahommedan population.