§ MR. F. S. STEVENSON (Suffolk, Eye)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any of the Great Powers, in addition to England and Italy, have agreed to the French proposal for the early evacuation of Crete by Turkish troops; and when that evacuation is expected to take place?
MR. CURZONWe have not heard of the formal proposal to which the hon. Member appears to allude, though inquiries have been addressed by the French Government to the other Powers as to their views on the subject. It is impossible to state at present when the withdrawal of the Turkish troops will take place, several of the Powers having expressed the opinion that the withdrawal of the Greek troops should be an antecedent step. The initiative would appear, therefore, to rest with the latter.