§ MR. DILLONI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether looting goes on daily unchecked in Canea; whether the Turkish police in the town are intrusted with any police duties; and, whether the only police force in the town is the force which recently mutinied and murdered its commanding officer?
MR. CURZONOn the 6th inst. her Majesty's Consul telegraphed that pillage was taking place in Canea. The Turkish police continue to discharge police duties there. It is not correct to say that this force recently mutinied. The mutiny was confined, as I have twice previously stated in the House, to 40 Albanian gendarmes.
§ MR. DILLONHas anything been done to stop the pillage?
MR. CURZONOh, yes, Sir, of course it has, because, as I have often had to state in this House, peace and order in the town are looked after by the detachments from the ships of the Powers.
§ MR. T. C. H. HEDDERWICK (Wick Burghs)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State of State for War whether the Government are dispatching any Highland regiments to Crete; and, if so, whether such troops have been selected with a view to the possibility of hill fighting?
§ MR. BRODRICKSix hundred men of the Seaforth Highlanders are under orders for Crete, having been selected by the Commander-in-Chief as being in all respects admirably fitted for the service.
§ MR. HEDDERWICKArising out of that I should like to ask whether this country is supposed to be at war with any Power in Crete? [Ministerial Cries of "Order."]
§ MR. BRODRICKI do not know that it is in any respect peculiar.
§ MR. WILLIAM ALLAN (Gateshead)Will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider his decision to send Highlanders out to Crete and send some other regiment? [Laughter.]
[No answer was given.]
§ SIR CHARLES DILKEI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether any declaration of blockade has been issued and notified in connection with the present proceedings of the Great Powers; and whether Her Majesty's Government have consented, while the German Government have declined, to employ land forces for operations in the interior of the Island of Crete?
§ MR. JOHN MORLEY (Montrose Burghs)Before the First Lord of the Treasury answers this, perhaps it would be convenient, in regard to the first half of the question, to answer a question of mine, of which I have given him private notice, at the same time—whether he can inform the House, in view of the statement of M. Méline in the French Chamber on Monday last (and Parliament has been referred to that speech by the British Prime Minister)—(Cheers)—that "Greece would once again be invited to accede to the Note of the Powers," and 946 further "Crete would be blockaded and the contingent of European troops increased," whether—this is the question—Greece was in fact, according to M. Méline's words, "invited to accede to the Note of the Powers" before the blockade was instituted
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI believe information has been sent to the British Minister at Athens for notification to the Greek Government of the blockade which will be established in connection with Crete. In regard to the Question on the Paper, think the first paragraph is answered by what I have just said. In regard to the second paragraph—
§ SIR C. DILKEI may say I used the legal words of international law, "issued and notified." The words have a technical meaning.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI fancy that is in process of being done. With regard to the second paragraph of the Question, it is not accurate—as far as I know—to say that the German Government have declined to send any troops to the island. They thoroughly agree with the general policy of the Powers.
§ SIR C. DILKEBut are they sending any troops?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI do not know.
§ MR. MORLEYWill technical notification be made to the Greek Government as to what M. Méline meant when he said "Greece would once again be invited to accede to the Note of the Powers"?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI really do not know. ["Hear, hear!"] I have not much satisfaction in answering the questions of the right hon. Gentleman on behalf of an Opposition who try to embarrass the Government as much as they can—[cheers, and Opposition, cries of "Oh!"]—by their speeches out of doors, though they dare not move a Vote of Censure. [Loud and prolonged Ministerial cheers.]
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT (Monmouthshire, W.), who was received with Opposition cheers, said: Before we move a Vote of Censure—[Ministerial laughter]—we must ask whether we shall be allowed to debate it in this House. [Ministerial cries of "Oh!" and Opposition cheers.] I must again ask, as we 947 have been referred to the speech of M. Méline, for an answer as to that speech. It is the only information which has been given to this House or to the country—[it Ministerial cries of "Order!"]—and I ask again whether, M. Méline, having stated that Greece would again be invited to accede to the Note of the Powers, and that Crete would not be blockaded, and the contingent of European troops increased until that invitation had been given—
§ SIR W. HARCOURTYou are laughing too soon. Greece, he says, will once again be invited to accede to the Note of the Powers, then Crete will be blockaded and the contingent of troops disembarked there will be increased. What does the word "then" mean? Does it mean before or after? [Ministerial cries of "Order!"] I have a right to ask that question because this is the explanation of the English Government—[Opposition cheers.]
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYI do not, as I have already said, feel myself bound to explain M. Méline's speech. [Opposition laughter and Ministerial cheers.] I understand the right hon. Gentleman to refer to a speech made by the Prime Minister in another place. The right hon. Gentleman has colleagues in another place; let them ask the Prime Minister. [Ministerial cheers and Opposition laughter.] With regard to the observation that fell from the right hon. Gentleman before that, I do not know whether he means to suggest that we desire to prevent him moving a Vote of Censure in this House. I can assure him he is greatly mistaken, and he has only got to name his day. [Loud and prolonged Ministerial cheers, and cries of "Name it."]