§ MR. J. C. FLYNN (Cork, N.)I beg-to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Foreign Office have yet received any official information concerning the alleged burning of the village of Galata, and the reported murder of a Christian Judge, M. Markoulakis, at Canea; whether he is aware that the Bishop of Canea and the Administrative Council of Notables have forwarded to the Consuls a memorandum denouncing the violence and misdeeds of the Turks, and imploring the prompt intervention of the Powers with a view to the immediate application of the reforms; and, if he can say what action 1560 has been taken by the representatives of the Powers to deal with this dangerous condition of affairs?
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will also answer at the same time the following question, of which I have given him private notice:—whether the Mussulman inhabitants of Crete have been driven to the coast from their homes by Christian insurgents and subjected to grievous maltreatment, and what steps Great Britain and the other Powers propose to take in order to protect the Mussulman inhabitants and to restore order, in view of the fact that the Sultan and the Turkish Government have given all the reforms in Crete asked for by the Powers?
MR. CURZONAs regards Galata and the reported murder of M. Markoulakis, there is nothing to add to the last answer returned to the hon. Member. The memorandum referred to has been sent home by Her Majesty's Consul. It calls attention to the fear of Mussulman agitation, and represents the need for foreign gendarmes in the towns. As regards the general situation in the island, about which the House will naturally desire the latest information, I have to state that the position at and around Canea Halepa, and Suda Bay has been grave for the last few days. Fighting, or rather the discharge of firearms, has been continuous, but there seems to be no foundation for the rumours as to a massacre that have appeared in some quarters, and, so far, the loss of life is reported as comparatively small. Flames broke out in many places in the town, and every exertion has been made by the foreign ships of war to subdue them, and in these efforts they were seconded by both the Christian and Mussulman population. Much difficulty resulted from scarcity of water supply. The Turkish troops are reported to have behaved in an exemplary manner, and there was practically no plundering. The last account, dated this morning, states that the fire has now been completely extinguished, though nearly 200 houses and some largo oil stores have been burnt, that upwards of 5,000 refugees have been embarked, and that the firing has ceased on all sides round Canea. At Candia the Mussulman population, who complained that they were defenceless 1561 while the Christians were armed, became uncontrollable, and are reported to have taken a quantity of rifles from the arsenal, but the latest intelligence is that the town continues quiet. As it is reported that there is great scarcity of food, the Admiral in command of the Mediterranean Squadron is sending the troopship Tyne from Malta with biscuits and meat for 1,200 persons for a fortnight. Her Majesty's ships Barfleur, Scout, Nymph, Fearless, Dragon, and a second battleship are at present in Cretan waters, and the Revenge with Admiral Harris on board, is on her way there. The commanders of these ships, in co-operation with Her Majesty's Consul and with Colonel Chermside, late Military Attaché at Constantinople, and representative of this country on the Gendarmerie Commission, have been labouring without cease to allay the disorder and alarm, to prevent more serious developments, and to afford protection to the refugees. In answer to the supplementary question put by my hon. Friend below the gangway, I have already in the answer I have read described generally the steps taken by the representatives of the Powers in Crete. I can assure him that we are as anxious to protect the Mussulman as the Christian inhabitants of the island—[cheers]—and that the steps which I have described as taken by our officials have been directed to that end. But so far as the reports—of which I have read a great many—lead me to form an opinion, it is that the maltreatment appears to be about evenly distributed between the two parties. ["Hear, hear!"]
§ MR. FLYNNasked if it were true that large numbers of Christians had taken refuge on board ships and that Turkish troops had rebelled against the Vali.
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order. The hon. Member must give notice of the question.
§ MR. DILLONasked if there was any definite information as to the actual loss of life?
MR. CURZONreplied that the only figures that the Foreign Office had reported the loss of life at not more than 30.
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked if the Government would take 1562 steps to see that some protection was offered to the Mussulmans of the interior?
§ MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member must give notice.