§ SIR CHARLES DILKEI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is the case, as stated in the declaration read by M. Hanotaux from the tribune of the French Corps Legislatif, that Greece addressed to the Powers several proposals of compromise, including one for the administration of Crete under the suzerainty of the Porte?
MR. CURZONHer Majesty's Government are not aware of any proposals in the nature of compromise having been addressed by Greece to the Powers, beyond that contained in the supplementary note of March 10, which has already been laid before Parliament.
§ SIR C. DILKEHas the right hon. Gentleman looked at the words employed by M. Hanotaux?
§ SIR C. DILKEThey are very clear on that subject.
MR. CURZONThe French Minister of Foreign Affairs said that communications had been made to him, and I assume that they were made to him by the Greek Minister in Paris. What I said was that we have not received them here.
§ MR. MACNEILLI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Turkey is to be allowed to take part in the blockade of Crete; and whether Turkish ships will be permitted to enter Cretan ports during the blockade?
MR. CURZONTurkey does not take part in the blockade. It has been notified and is enforced by the Admirals of the Great Powers. Turkish merchant vessels will be permitted to enter Cretan ports under the same restrictions as other merchant vessels.
§ MR. MACNEILLAs Crete is at present an integral part of the Turkish Empire, do I understand that Turkey is debarred from blockading herself? [Laughter.]
[No answer was given.]
§ MR. MACNEILLI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the prohibition to the ships of the Great Powers and neutral nations entering Cretan ports to land goods intended for the interior applies only to goods for the Greek forces in Crete, who only occupy the district of Sphakin, or to the cutting off of the remaining nine-tenths of the island from the means of subsistence; and whether the Government have considered that the effect of this prohibition, if enforced in its entirety, will be to prevent the Christians in the interior of Crete, already reduced to want by the failure of last year's harvest, from receiving food while the Moslems of the towns are enabled to 1184 import whatever commodities they please?
MR. CURZONThe application of the rules of blockade is left to the discretion of the Admirals, who will, no doubt, take care that they do not press with unnecessary severity on the peaceably disposed portions of the population of either creed.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESMay I ask whether the offence of breaking the blockade will, as in other blockades, extend to the whole of the voyage?
§ SIR ELLIS ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Turkey and Greece have been desirous of entering into direct negotiations for the settlement of the Cretan question; and whether the Great Powers have objected to such direct negotiations; and, if so, on what ground this objection has been taken?
MR. CURZONHer Majesty's Government are not aware of any such desire having been shown, or of any objections having been raised by any of the Great Powers.