§ MR. HAYTERasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether his attention has been drawn to two telegrams from Athens, dated June 24th and June 25th, and published in the "Times" on the following days, from which it appears that the Turkish authorities in Crete employed on Monday last a body of Bashi Bazouks against the insurgents, and that in the neighbourhood of Canea eleven women and many children were murdered; and, whether, in view of these atrocities, he will undertake, on behalf of the Government, to instruct Sir Austen Layard to lose no time in seconding the hitherto ineffectual remonstrances of our Consul in Crete against the employment of these irregular troops by the Porte, and to remonstrate with the Ministry at Constantinople?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERThe attention of the Government has been drawn to the two telegrams to which the hon. and gallant Gentleman refers, and to other reports which have reached us on this subject. We have received no communication from Mr. Consul Sandwith, and I do not feel sure that the information sent to the newspapers is entirely to be relied on; but the Government have communicated with Sir Austen Layard on the subject, and every effort will be used to prevent any atrocities that can in any way be checked or prevented. I may say that a communication has been received within the last hour or so from Lord John Hay, now commanding the Defiance. He has gone to Souda Bay, and reports that there is a more tranquil state of things than was recently the case.