§ MR. R. WALLACE (Edinburgh, E.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, under the scheme of autonomy for Crete, resolved on by the Concert of Europe, the European Governor will be elected by the Cretan people or their representatives, or appointed exclusively by the Concert?
§ MR. R. WALLACE (Edinburgh, E.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it accords with his information that, on a recent date at Canea, under orders of the Admirals now protecting Crete, by leave of the Sultan, 20 Mahomedans were embarked in chains on board European ships; whether those persons have been tried and sentenced for any and for what offence; and what further steps the Admirals are about to take with reference to these prisoners?
§ MR. J. DILLON (Mayo, E.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, on the 19th July, 20 Mahomedans, who had been implicated in the destruction of property in Canea, were embarked in chains on board the European ships?
MR. CURZONA telegram just received from Admiral Harris reports that at the request of the Italian Captain, Commandant General at Canea, the 727 Admirals had decided to embark on the ships of the International Squadrons a certain number of Turkish prisoners, as their supervision by the Turkish authorities was inadequate. They were to be conveyed to Benghazi by first opportunity on board a foreign man-of-war. The Admiral states that this measure has produced a good effect. The above is all the information we have received on the subject.
§ MR. R. WALLACE (Edinburgh, E.)Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether they have been merely arrested, or whether they have been tried?
MR. CURZONI have given to the House the words of the telegram—all the information I have received; but I draw from the use of the words "prisoners" the inference that they have been imprisoned, and from that we may assume that they have been tried and sentenced. [Laughter.]
§ MR. DILLONI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Mahomedans of Retimo made a raid on the night of the 16th July on a Christian village at two hours' distance from Retimo, killing eight and wounding two, and carrying off 300 head of cattle; and whether any attempt has been made, or will be made, to bring to justice the organisers of the raid?
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTBefore that question is answered may I ask whether the Representatives of the Powers in Crete have been enabled as yet to take any effectual steps to restore to the beleaguered Mahomedans the land and cattle of which they have been robbed by the Christians?
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! I must call attention to the growing practice, when a Question is asked with regard to the conduct of the Mahomedans in Crete at one particular place, to meet it by asking a counter-question with regard to the conduct of the Christians in another place. The one does not arise out of the other. [Cheers.]
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTI am referring specifically to the Cretan Mussulmans who are beleaguered at Retimo, and generally, of course, to the others.
MR. CURZONI do not think I have anything to say in reply to the Question of the hon. Gentleman. [Laughter.] In regard to the Question on the Paper, the 728 British Vice Consul at Retimo has reported that Christians had been raided by Mussulmans on the 16th at Onithe, with the result that eight Christians were killed and two Mussulmans wounded, 300 head of cattle carried off, and two Mussulmans wounded. We have not heard that complaints have been made with regard to the conduct of the Turkish Governor. The Russian Commandant commands the European troops at Retimo, and on receiving news of the outbreak the Russian Admiral proceeded there with the Vali. We do not know what further steps have been taken.