§ MR. FLYNNI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether the Foreign Office have received any official information concerning the mutiny of the Turkish gendarmerie at Canea, and the murder of their officer, Colonel Suleiman Bey; and that the mutineers also fired at Major Bor, a British officer appointed to re-organise the gendarmerie; and (2) whether, in view of these occurrences, the British representative will urge upon the Powers the advisability of withdrawing the Moslem troops and gendarmerie as a condition precedent to the withdrawal of the Greek troops?
MR. CURZONOfficial information has been received that on the evening of the 2nd instant about forty Albanian 1605 Zaptiehs belonging to the old gendarmerie mutinied owing to non-payment of their arrears of pay. When ordered to disarm in presence of a detachment of the allied forces in occupation of the town, the mutineers opened fire, killing their colonel, Suleiman Bey, and wounding about six other persons, including one Italian seaman. The foreign forces were compelled to fire, and wounded five gendarmes. The mutineers were disarmed, and three ringleaders arrested. In answer to the last paragraph, Her Majesty's Government cannot assume the responsibility for giving advice that would in all probability be immediately followed by the most deplorable loss of life in the island.
§ MR. FLYNNMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the Collective Note sent to the Porte mentioned the withdrawal of the Turkish troops as a gradual withdrawal?
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! That does not arise out of the question.
§ CAPTAIN DONELANMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether these mutineers formed part of the force to protect the inhabitants of Crete?
MR. CURZONNo, Sir; these mutineers, as we understand, form part of the old Turkish gendarmerie, and not of the new International gendarmerie, which has been organised since the autumn of last year, and which is under the command of Colonel Bor.
MR. JAMES LOWTHER (Kent, Thanet)I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is the case that a considerable number of the Christian members of the new gendarmerie deserted with their arms and joined the insurgents? [Laughter.]
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether he had any information regarding the Mussulman inhabitants and Turkish troops beleaguered at Candamos; and (2) whether the artillery used in the attack was supplied by the Greek invaders?
MR. CURZONThere are four ships of the allied fleets at Selinos. The captains have orders to do what lies in their power to disengage the besieged Mussulmans at Candamos. This has been notified by the Admirals to the Greek Commodore for 1606 the information of the commanders of Greek troops, bidding them responsible if Candamos Mussulmans were massacred. The Greek Vice Consul at Canea, who has denied that Greek troops are at Candamos, has received orders from his Government to go to Selinos and try to liberate the Mussulmans besieged at Candamos.
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTWill the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to answer the last paragraph of my question?
MR. CURZONI have answered it to the best of my ability, in that part of my reply in which I said that the Greek Consul had denied that Greek troops were at Candamos, and if not Greek troops, I suppose not Greek guns.
§ *SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT (Monmouthshire, W.)I beg leave to ask the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs a Question of which I have given him private notice—namely, whether his statement in this House on Tuesday last that the Powers are in absolute agreement, and that the Government had received the full and formal assent of the Powers to the scheme of policy of Her Majesty's Government, is to be taken as applying to the agreement of the Powers as to the withdrawal of the Turkish troops from Crete?
MR. CURZONAs regards the actual words I used in the Debate referred to, I did not use the words "formal assent." I used the words "full assent."
§ *SIR W. HARCOURTYou were so reported in The Times.
MR. CURZONYes: I was misreported in the papers as having used the word "formal." I used the word "full." Inasmuch as the form of autonomy guaranteed by the Powers to Crete is described by them as an absolutely effective autonomy it is certain that they are in agreement with Her Majesty's Government that the Turks shall retain no military control or influence over the island.
§ *SIR W. HARCOURTI also desire to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether he will state to the House the exact terms of the Collective Note presented by the Powers to the Sultan. We have had the terms of the Collective Note presented to the Greeks, but not the terms of the Collective Note presented to the Sultan; and particularly what are the conditions agreed upon by the Powers 1607 as to the withdrawal of the Turkish soldiers from Crete, as to the religion of the Governor to be appointed, and whether the Collective Note of the Powers declares the intention of the Powers to enforce such conditions upon the Sultan?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.I am afraid I cannot answer the questions of the right hon. Gentleman, because we have not heard from Constantinople whether the Collective Note has been submitted to the Porte. I believe there has been some interruption in the telegraphic communication. But I propose to lay on behalf of the Government—or my right hon. Friend the Under Secretary will do so—the text of both Notes as soon as they are received. Perhaps that will be the most convenient way to proceed.
§ *SIR W. HARCOURTThe right hon. Gentleman will excuse me for pressing him. If he can give us a statement upon this question of the agreement as to the terms of the withdrawal of the Turkish troops, he will see the great effect it must have on the action of the other Power—I mean Greece.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYYes; but I am afraid it would be very improper for me to give what I believe to be the terms which will be submitted to the Porte until we know they have been actually submitted. I am sorry I am not able to give the information to-day. I had fully expected to be able to do so, but for the reason I have indicated, I am not in a position to do so.
§ *SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucester, Forest of Dean)Is it not possible to give the House the Greek Notes?
§ *SIR C. DILKEThere was one of February 10, to which the right hon. Gentleman referred in his speech the other night.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYPerhaps the right hon. Gentleman will put a question down with regard to this matter for to-morrow. Meanwhile, I may repeat that the texts of the two Notes—one Greek and the other Turkish—will be laid on the Table of the House as soon as we are in a position so to lay them.