§ MR. DILLONI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what precautions the Government have taken to insure that the Christian peasantry of Crete shall not be subjected to famine by the blockade; and on what grounds the Government justify the 3rd article of the proclamation, which forbids the landing of provisions for the interior of the island, while no restriction is placed on the landing of provisions and stores for the use of those cities where the Mahommedan population and the Turkish troops are congregated?
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not a fact that the Christian insurgents are now in possession of the lands, the homes, the property, and the goods of the Mahommedan population, which they have taken from them by force?
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)I wish they were.
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. G. CURZON, Lancashire, Southport)I do not think I could undertake to answer that on the spur of the moment. In answer to the Question on the Paper I have to say that no reply has as yet been received from the British Admiral to the communication addressed to him on the subject; but we gather from other reports that this question of provisions for the population of the island is one which is engaging the earnest attention of the Admirals.
§ MR. MACNEILLI beg to ask the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs a Question, of which I have given him private notice—whether the number of Christians murdered at Tokat amounted not to 100, but 700?
§ MR. CURZONNo, Sir. The number that was reported to us was "at least 100." We have not heard of 700 or of a larger number.
§ MR. J. C. FLYNN (Cork, N.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a proposal for the contemporaneous withdrawal of Greek 1439 and Turkish troops from Crete is under consideration by the Powers; and, if not, will the representative of Her Majesty's Government urge upon the other Powers, in the interests of peace, the propriety of this step being taken?
§ MR. CURZONThe Powers have already summoned the Greek Government to withdraw their troops from Crete, but this demand has not so far been complied with. Under these circumstances the Governments of the Great Powers are not likely to entertain any proposals for the contemporaneous withdrawal of Greek and Turkish troops. The question of the withdrawal of the Turkish troops is under separate consideration, and Her Majesty's Government have urged that it should take place with as little delay as possible.