§ SIR ELLIS ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have confirmation of the reports that 300 Mussulmans have been massacred by the Cretan insurgents in Sitia, that 13 Mussulman villages have been there destroyed, and that Mussulman women and children have been killed and mutilated at Kisanmo Kasteli; whether there has been a general massacre of the Mussulman inhabitants of Sitia; and, whether he will direct special inquiry as to the fate of the Mussulman inhabitants of the interior of Crete?
*MR. CURZONHer Majesty's Consul telegraphed on the 12th instant that the Commander of Her Majesty's ship Dragon had been informed by the Governor of Sitia that 300 Turks had been killed there, and that he feared the massacre of the Christians in the towns in revenge. We have received no confirmation of this report, nor have we 723 heard that there has been a general massacre of the Mussulman inhabitants of Sitia. On the 9th instant the Turkish authorities informed Her Majesty's Consul that 23 Mussulmans had been murdered at Kissamo Castelli, but of this report also no later confirmation has yet been received. I am afraid that in the present condition of affairs, Her Majesty's Consul has few opportunities of communicating with the interior of the island; but I have no objection to telegraphing to him for any information that he may be able to give on the subject.
§ MR. DILLONWill the right hon. Gentleman include in his telegram an inquiry as to the truth of a report that six Christians were put into a bakery and roasted alive?
*MR. CURZONI think that allegation applies to Canea, where the Consul is, and I doubt not that he will inform us of any such occurrences.
§ MR. DILLONBut will the right hon. Gentleman mind asking him; it is a very horrible allegation?