§ MR. DILLONI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the memorandum presented by the President of the Cretan Assembly to the consuls of France, England, Italy, and 89 Russia, in which it is stated that while the Assembly, in deference to the four Powers, accepts the scheme for a provisional government which has been proposed by them, at the same time the Assembly feels bound to express the conviction that this régime has little chance of success and will probably only prolong the sufferings of the Cretans, sufferings which have already affected the four Powers; whether this memorandum has been considered by the Government; and whether it has affected their decision on the situation in Crete?
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. CURZON,) Lancashire, SouthportI have seen a copy of the memorandum as printed in the Manchester Guardian of Monday, but it has not as yet been officially communicated to Her Majesty's Government. Although the Assembly appear to entertain doubts as to the success of the new regime, the fact remains that they unanimously accepted it.
§ MR. DILLONI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, at Canea and Rhetymo, a civil administration has been organised under the control of foreign officers; whether in Candia no such administration has been organised; and whether the British authorities there have confined themselves to garrison duty and taken no share in the administration or police of the city; and, if so, what is the cause of this distinction?
MR. CURZONThere is not the distinction between the various towns which the honourable Member imagines to exist. The instructions of the International Council of Admirals are carried out in each. The general civil administration of Canea, Candia, and Rhetymo remains in Turkish hands, except in the following particulars. An international tribunal has been organised at Canea for the trial of cases arising out of the foreign occupation; and similar powers have been delegated to the military commandants at each of the other occupied towns. There is also a small police force, under international control, already in existence or in process of constitution at each place. At Candia the sanitary 90 work has been in the hands of the British for 10 months, and has been paid for from British funds.
§ MR. DILLONI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what plan has been arranged for the future government of the towns of Candia, Canea, and Rhetymo; and whether any arrangements are in contemplation to secure the safe access of the Christians of the interior to the town of Candia?
MR. CURZONThe three towns mentioned are occupied by European troops, and will, consequently, according to the new arrangement, remain under the authority of the admirals. The Christians for the past year have been permitted access to the town by sea. It has not been considered hitherto expedient to admit them by land until the Moslems are permitted by them to visit their properties by land. Gradual steps in this direction have been taken for the past five months, and small parties of Moslems conducted by British officers visit their properties outside the cordon. Similarly Christians are conducted to visit their properties within the cordon.