§ MR. DILLONI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the character of the provisional constitution which has been submitted by the Admirals to the Assembly of Crete; and whether it contemplates the withdrawal of the Turkish troops from the island?
MR. CURZONThe following is the nature of the arrangement contemplated in the instructions sent to the Admirals. At the request of the Admirals, the Cretan Assembly shall appoint an executive Committee which shall be provisionally charged with the administration of those parts of the island which actually obey the Assembly. This Committee shall be in permanent touch with the Admirals, and shall be liable to dissolution by them. The Admirals shall continue to exercise their authority in the districts occupied by the European or Ottoman troops. It rests with the Admirals to decide whether the gendarmerie now under their orders shall be placed at the disposal of the Executive Committee. The question of the Turkish troops is under the consideration of the Admirals, but is independent of the provisional constitution which relates to part of the island where there are no Turkish troops at all.