HC Deb 09 March 1897 vol 47 cc299-302
Mr. J. C. FLYNN (Cork, N.)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Collective Note of the Great Powers was presented to the Porte on the 4th instant, and the Supplementary Note, respecting the progressive reduction of the Ottoman forces, on the 5th instant; on what date was the Identic Note presented to the Greek Government; and if he can say why the Collective Notes were, not presented simultaneously to the Porte and to the Greek Government?

MR. CURZON

The hon. Member will see by reference to the papers that the Collective Note to the Porte and the Identic Note, to the, Greek Government were not presented on different days, but on the same day—viz., the 2nd instant. The Supplementary Note to the Porte was presented on the 5th instant, not having received the sanction of all the Powers at the date of the presentation of the original Note.

SIR ELLIS ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can now state the replies of the Turkish and Greek Governments to the Notes of the Great Powers?

MR. CURZON

The reply of the Porte was received on the 7th instant, and that of the Greek Government this morning. The substance of both replies has appeared in the newspapers.

SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us generally a summary of the reply of the Porte? I have not seen it in the newspapers.[Cries of "Oh, oh!" and laughter.]

SIR W. HARCOURT (Monmouthshire, W.)

Will the text of the Notes be laid on the Table?

MR. CURZON

I am not aware that there will be any objection to do so; but if the right hon. Gentleman will allow me I will ask.

SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT

I asked the right hon. Gentleman a Question. Will he answer? Has the Porte accepted the Note of the Powers?

MR. CURZON

Yes, Sir, it has. As to the general character of the reply, I should hesitate to give from memory even a general summary.

MR. THOMAS BAYLEY (Derbyshire, Chesterfield)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if the Government, in arranging with the other Great Powers for the temporary occupation of the Island of Crete by Turkish soldiers and civil servants, will see that proper guarantees are given for their fair, reasonable, and regular payment?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY

I do not admit that the phrase "temporary occupation of the Island of Crete by Turkish soldiers," represents accurately the policy of the Powers. Of course we are fully alive to the, necessity of securing that the new gendarmerie shall be a well-ordered and disciplined force.

MR. BAYLEY

And well paid?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY

You cannot have a well-ordered and disciplined force, unless they are well paid. [Laughter.]

MR. MACNEILL

I wish to ask the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs a Question of which I have given him private notice, and of which I have taken the precaution to keep a copy. [Laughter.]I wish to ask whether Lord Salisbury will give an assurance analogous to that given yesterday by the French Prime Minister—[cheer]—that no action of a hostile or coercive character will be taken against Greece by the Naval or Military forces of the Crown without the full approval of the Imperial Parliament?[Cheer.]

MR. CURZON

With all respect to the hon. Gentleman and to the House, I must hold myself excused from answering questions of which hon. Gentlemen affect to give private notice, although their private notice seldom or never reaches me before I have taken my seat on this Bench.[Cheers.] Private notice ought also to be adequate notice.[Cheers.]

MR. MACNEILL

As a matter of explanation, I may say that I sent the notice before one o'clock to the right hon. Gentleman. Would it be for his convenience if I put the Question down for Thursday? As it is it question of urgency, will he communicate with Lord Salisbury?

MR. CURZON

The hon. Gentleman can put down any question he pleases. It is not within my province to advise him.[Cheers.]

MR. H. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)

Will the First Lord of the Treasury answer the Question, of which I have not been able to give him private notice? [Laughter.] It is whether he has seen a statement by M. Méline, the French Prime Minister, in the Chamber yesterday, that he will communicate to the Chamber the intentions of the Powers on Wednesday or Thursday; and whether we can hope for a similar communication at the same time in this House?[Cheers.]

SIR W. HARCOURT

I quite understand the difficulty which the Government may have in answering the Question at this moment; but I propose myself to ask a question of the Government on the Motion for Adjournment to-night.[Cheers.]

MR. JAMES LOWTHER (Kent, Thanet)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary or the First Lord of the Admiralty whether there is any news to communicate to the house with regard to the forces landed to rescue the loyal garrison?

MR. CURZON

I do not know whether the First Lord of the Admiralty has any news, but I am sorry to say that the Foreign Office has received none.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he was aware that there was no detailed map of Crete in the Library, and whether he would get the Admiralty chart of Crete and have it hung up in the tea-room?

THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. AKERS-DOUGLAS,) Kent, St. Augustine's

That is a question which must be addressed to the Foreign Office.