§ On the Motion "That this House do now adjourn,"
§ MR. JOHN MORLEY (Montrose Burghs)said there was a question his right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition put to the Leader of the House concerning the presentation of the Note to Turkey, and the right hon. Gentleman, as they understood, stated that he was not sure that the Note had been presented, and therefore he was not in a position to tell the House the terms of the Note. The right hon. Gentleman hoped that when the adjournment of the House was moved, he would be able to make a statement to the House of the terms of the demand made to the Sultan by her Majesty's Government in concert with 141 the Powers, and particularly the conditions imposed in regard to the removal of Turkish troops from Crete, and whether, as in the case of Greece, a fixed date had been assigned for the compulsory assent by the Porte to the conditions imposed. He wished to ask whether the right hon. Gentleman was prepared to answer that Question.
THE FIRST LORD OF TILE TREASURYFive minutes ago I received a telegram from the Foreign Office, stating that the Note had been presented to the Porte, but not giving the text. I am sorry for that. Under the circumstances I am afraid I cannot give an answer to the Question of the right hon. Gentleman.
§ MR. J. MORLEYAre we to understand that a Note has been presented in the name of the Powers to the Porte, of which the representative of the Government in this House is not in possession of a copy! [Opposition cheers.]
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI have not got the text. I have telegraphed to-day for the text of the Note presented. Five minutes ago I had a telegram to say that it had been presented. I have not got the text.
§ MR. J. MORLEYI do not wish to be too pressing, but the Government must, obviously, have in their possession the text of the Note presented to the Porte. Surely, then, the right hon. Gentleman can tell us, in answer to the Question of my right hon. Friend, what were the terms of the Note, in respect of the withdrawal of troops from Crete by the Porte, and whether those terms are identical with, or similar to, the terms of the Greek Note?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYThe arrangement was that the Powers should telegraph to the Ambassador at Constantinople on the subject. By inference I assume that as the Note has been presented it is the Note that was agreed to by the Ambassadors. But unfortunately I have not got the text with me. It is not contained in the telegram which I have just had handed to me.
§ MR. J. MORLEY, amidst Ministerial cries of "Oh" and Opposition cheers, said: The Note is of importance and the country has a great curiosity about it. [Ministerial cheers.] From the language used by the right hon. Gentleman in his last answer, there seems to be a possible 142 difference between the Note presented by the Ambassador and the Note agreed to by the Powers. Is the Note that has been presented the Note which all the Powers have agreed to, or is it only the Note which the Ambassador suggested? If it is the Note agreed to by the Powers, of course the Foreign Office here must have it in their possession. [Opposition cheers.]
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYUndoubtedly they must have it substantially, but I doubt whether any verbal change has been made by the Ambassadors at Constantinople. The words of the telegram are: "Supplementary Collective Note respecting Turkish troops in Crete presented to-day." That is the telegram which was handed to me five minutes ago.
§ MR. J. MORLEYThis Supplementary Note has, according to that telegram, been presented. The Ambassador, who I presume dispatched that telegram, assumed that the recipient of the telegram at the Foreign Office would know to what Supplementary Note he was referring. All I humbly ask is, What was the Supplementary Note?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI understand the right hon. Gentleman's position, and I hope he understands mine. If I had got this telegram an hour ago, I have no doubt I could have got it from the Foreign Office, but unfortunately I got it five minutes ago, and it has not been possible for me to get it from the Foreign Office.
§ SIR C. DILKEThe right hon. Gentleman has stated the same thing over and over again. It is conclusive as to the particular point. But surely the right hon. Gentleman can state the substance.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI should not venture to state the substance.
§ MR. J. MORLEYBut surely the right hon. Gentleman, having at a quarter past four o'clock described to the House his expectation that before this hour arrived he would have received a telegram from Constantinople saying whether or not the Note had been presented yet, has been waiting in hourly expectation of that telegram, and knowing that he would be asked the question which I am asking on behalf of my right hon. Friend, has he not provided himself with a copy of the 143 Supplementary Note to which the question refers?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI think I can satisfy the right hon. Gentleman at once. As soon as I got private notice of the question of the right hon. Gentleman the Member for West Monmouthshire, I sent over to the Foreign Office to know whether they had received any information from the Ambassador. They informed me that they had received no information. I then directed them to at once telegraph for information. The telegram was sent somewhat in this form—"Telegraph whether the Note has been presented, and telegraph its text en Clair." Under those circumstances I did not think it necessary to provide myself, and did not provide myself, with any special copy of the text of the Note which we supposed would be presented. Of course, I thought it would come with the telegram. [Cheers.]
§ MR. J. MORLEYI have only one more question to ask, and it is this—What is the meaning of asking the Ambassador at Constantinople to telegraph en Clair the text of a Note of every word of which, I assume, the Foreign Office, the Foreign Secretary, and the Government must have been fully aware? I also wish to know whether the country is to remain in ignorance until Monday afternoon next [cheers] as to what the terms of that Note are, and especially upon the point to winch our Question refers.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI have no right to dispute the view of the right hon. Gentleman that it is extremely important to know between this and Monday next what is the exact text of the Identic Note presented. I am very sorry that I cannot give the text, but I think it is absolutely unimportant, because the Powers are absolutely determined that the Turkish forces shall, under no circumstances whatever, have any uncontrolled dominion over any part of that island. [Cheers.]
§ MR. J. MORLEYIs that in the Note?
§ MR. F. A. CHANNING (Northampton, E.)who was received with Ministerial Cries of "Oh!" said: May I put this question? It is a matter of public importance of the first degree. The telegram received at the Foreign Office speaks of a supplementary Collective Note. Those 144 words imply that a previous Collective Note must have been presented, and I think it is quite clear that the representative of the Foreign Office and the First Lord of the Treasury must be aware of the terms of that Note, and be able to state them. They would also, perhaps, be able to state what are the points on which the Government of this country has suggested to its Ambassador at Constantinople that the first Note should be modified. I therefore ask this specific question, whether there has not been a fresh Note presented, and what that is?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYThe supplementary Note did not modify the first Note, it added to it.
§ MR. CHANNINGWhat is the first Note?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI have not got the text here.
§ MR. J. MORLEYWould the right hon. Gentleman agree, as the text of the Note, as we assume from the right hon. Gentleman's answer, is in the Foreign Office, to supply it to the Press to-night? [Cheers.]
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI do not believe such a proceeding has ever been taken before. [Ministerial cheers.] I believe the French text is not at the Foreign Office, but if, as I assume, the English text is at the Foreign Office it shall be laid on the Table on Monday. [Opposition Cries of "Oh!" and cheers.]
§ MR. JOHN DILLON (Mayo, E.)May I ask the right hon. Gentleman why it is that the text of the Note to Greece has been supplied to the newspapers and has been all over Europe for the last two or three days, while the text of the Note to Turkey is not published?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI do not know, Sir. I have nothing to do with the Press. It has not been supplied to the Press in England.
§ SIR C. DILKEWill the right hon. Gentleman inquire whether a special Gazette could be issued.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI will inquire whether such a thing has been done; I am not aware that any such course has been pursued before.
§ House adjourned at Twenty-five minutes before One o'clock till Monday next.