§ MR. PHILIP STANHOPE (Burnley)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government have received confirmation of the terrible reports appearing in the public Press as to the operations of the Turkish troops in the island of Crete, and the work of devastation by them of the Christian villages in the mountain districts; and whether Her Majesty's Government will take immediate steps to arrest these proceedings, and to press upon the Porte the urgent necessity of making due and adequate concessions to the people of Crete?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. GEORGE CURZON,) Lancashire, SouthportThe reports from Her Majesty's Consul in Crete give a general confirmation to the statements that have appeared with regard to the pillage of villages inhabited by Christians. There is no authentic information that Turkish troops took part in the proceedings, but they were not employed to prevent them. On the other hand, it is stated that Mussulman villages have been attacked and plundered by the Christians. Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Constantinople recently called the serious attention of the Turkish Government to the state of affairs in the island, urging that the greatest care should be taken to keep the troops in check, and that if military measures were decided upon the Commandant should give the strictest orders to maintain discipline and to prevent any attempt at pillage and massacre. The representatives of the six Powers, who are acting in entire accord, have since made joint representations to the Porte with regard to the measures necessary for the restoration of order.
§ MR. JOHN ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether the Ambassadors of the Powers in conference on the affairs of Crete have come to any conclusion as to the steps they are prepared to urge upon the Sultan, with a view of securing the good government of the Island; and, if so, whether he will state them to the House?
§ *MR. CURZONThe representatives of the Powers at Constantinople have been instructed by their Governments to urge on the Porte the immediate adoption of the following measures for the restoration of tranquillity in Crete. (1), the nomination of a Christian Governor; (2), the revival of the Halepa Constitution; (3), the convocation of the Assembly; (4), a general amnesty. The Assembly has been summoned for June 29th.
§ SIR R. REID (Dumfries Burghs)asked whether the right hon. Gentleman could say if there was any reasonable prospect of these recommendations being attended to by the Porte?
§ *MR. CURZONThese representations were addressed to the Porte only yesterday morning, and I think, perhaps, it would be a little premature for me to answer that question now.