§ MR. J. C. FLYNN (Cork, N.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the statements made to the effect that, notwithstanding that the Turkish troops have been ordered to desist from active operations, Abdullah Pasha appears to have endeavoured to establish overland communication with Selinon by seizing the pass of Kakopetra, which operation was resisted by the Christians; is it intended to continue Abdullah Pasha in the position of Military Governor; and, whether any representations on this point have been made to the Porte?
§ *THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. GEORGE CURZON,) Lancashire, SouthportI believe the hon. Gentleman commented on my absence when the Question was put the first time. Will he allow me to say that if, in spite of the reiterated appeals I have made to hon. Members to give me at least one day's notice of Foreign Office Questions, which has invariably been the rule, hon. Members persist in putting down Questions of which they have given me less notice, it is extremely difficult for me to acquire the necessary information, to frame a reply, to submit it to the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, to receive my reply back again, and be here at a quarter-past 3 o'clock to deliver it, I cannot do it. I will endeavour to meet the desires of hon. Gentlemen, but I hope they will be a little more reasonable. ["Hear, hear!"] In reply to the Question on the Paper, Her Majesty's Consul in Crete reported by telegraph on the 4th instant that the military authorities in the island had received and given orders to the troops not to move, and only to defend themselves if attacked. Her Majesty's Government have heard of no offensive military operations on the part of the troops since the issue of those orders. Her Majesty's Government have received no information as to the Porte's intentions with regard to the continuance or otherwise of Abdullah Pasha in the position of Military Governor. They have made no representations to the Turkish Government on this point, and have not heard that any of the other Powers contemplate doing so.
§ MR. FLYNNI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether Her Majesty's Government has received any information relative to statements in the evening papers of to-day (9th instant) to the effect that a French occupation of Crete is contemplated; and, whether the Government would support such proceeding in preference to permitting continued slaughter and outrage in the island?
§ MR. CURZONHer Majesty's Government have received no information on the subject of the newspaper's statement referred to by the hon. Member. They consider it altogether improbable, and see no reason for offering any opinion with regard to it.