HC Deb 29 January 1878 vol 237 c620
MR. SHAW LEFEVRE

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he can lay upon the Table of the House any recent Despatch from Her Majesty's Consul in Crete as to the state of that island, and the progress of the insurrection of its Christian population?

MR. BOURKE,

in reply, said, Her Majesty's Government did not consider it desirable, in the present state of affairs, to lay upon the Table any further despatches in reference to the affairs of Crete than those contained in Blue Book (No. 1). He thought it hardly right to state, as he saw was stated in the Question, "that Crete was in a state of insurrection;" but at the same time there was no doubt it was in a very disturbed state.

MR. SHAW LEFEVRE

subsequently said: With reference to the Answer of the hon. Gentleman the Under Secretary of State, I beg to ask, Whether it is true that H.M.S. "Rupert" was detached from the Mediterranean Squadron at the commencement of this month and sent to the vicinity of Crete; and, if so, with what object?

MR. BOURKE,

in reply, said, that he could not answer the Question without Notice.