§ MR. JAMES BRYCE (Aberdeen, S.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government view with favour and will support a settlement of the affairs of Crete, which shall place the rights of the assembly and the arrangements for the local autonomy of the island under the guarantee of the Great 1312 Powers of Europe; and whether they will urge that such a settlement shall secure the supreme authority of the Vali or Governor General from interference on the part of any military functionary, I wish further to ask whether the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs is in a position to give the House any further information as to the state of affairs in Crete, or to confirm the statement in to-day's newspapers as to the meeting of the Assembly?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. GEORGE CURZON,) Lancashire, SouthportThe Assembly only met at 10 o'clock this morning and I am not in a position to say what transpired. The telegrams received to-day do not add anything to the information already given to the House. In answer to the question on the Paper, in the discussions which have taken place and are taking place between the Representatives of the Powers at Constantinople, the proposals mentioned in the Question have not so far been included; and I do not think that I should facilitate the unanimity of the Powers, which we are anxious to maintain, if I were to make any statement of the views independently entertained by Her Majesty's Government.
§ MR. BRYCEasked when the right hon. Gentleman could communicate to the House the views of the Government. At present the House was entirely in the dark on that subject?
§ MR. CURZONA week ago I gave a clear indication of the policy and views of the Government, and I see no present necessity for saying anything further.
§ MR. BRYCEThen I shall have to question the right hon. Gentleman again, because we do not consider his statement at all satisfactory.
§ MR. JOHN ELLIS (Notts, Rushcliffe)asked when the Papers promised ten days ago would be laid on the Table.
§ MR. CURZONsaid he did not promise any Papers, but hoped soon to be able to give further information.
§ MR. C. J. MONK (Gloucester)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the time has yet arrived for presenting to Parliament the Dispatches and Consular Reports from Her Majesty's Representatives in Turkey relating to the disturbances in Crete, and to the measures 1313 recommended by the Great Powers for the pacification of that island?
§ MR. CURZONSeeing that the Cretan General Assembly is about to meet, and that discussions will take place as to the terms of the settlement to be arranged, I think my hon. Friend will agree that the present would not be a favourable moment for the publication of correspondence.