§ SIR ELLIS ASHMEAD-BARTLETTI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Turkish Government have proposed Caratheodori Pasha, who is an Ottoman official of the highest character and experience, and a Greek by race and a Christian by religion, as Governor General of Crete; and whether Her Majesty's 1227 Government have opposed his candidature; and, if so, on what grounds?
§ MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)May I ask the right honourable Gentleman if the Foreign Office is aware that the appointment of Caratheodori would be very unpopular with the bulk of the inhabitants of Crete?
MR. CURZONThe answer to the supplementary Question anticipates, to some extent, what I have to say in reply to the Question on the Paper. The appointment of Caratheodori Pasha as Governor General of Crete has been proposed by the Turkish Government. Her Majesty's Government stated in reply that the appointment of a Turkish subject as Governor General was contrary to the public declarations made by several of the Powers, Great Britain among the number, and acquiesced in by the others, and was consequently inadmissible. The appointment of an Ottoman subject would, in the opinion of Her Majesty's Government, meet with the most strenuous resistance from the whole Christian population, and would make the Government of the island impossible, except by an overwhelming military force.
§ SIR ELLIS ASHMEAD-BARTLETTArising out of that answer, I should like to ask the right honourable Gentleman which of the other great Powers have made a public declaration against the appointment of an Ottoman subject as Governor General of Crete, and whether there is any Government in Crete at the present time, and whether any Government has existed since the Powers presumably took charge there?
MR. CURZONYes, Sir. In reply to the last Question I look forward to the next Debate on the Foreign Office Estimates, when I hope I shall be able to lay before the House a statement of facts which will show a better state of things in Crete than has existed for some time. As regards the first Question, I should be glad if the honourable Member would put it on the Paper; but my impression is that it relates to the whole of the great Powers.
§ MR. JAMES LOWTHER (Kent, Isle of Thanet)Is the right honourable Gentleman aware that the objections on the 1228 part of the Christian population in Crete to a Turkish Governor apply still more forcibly on the part of the Mussulman inhabitants to a Greek subject, and especially to a member of the Greek Royal Family?
MR. CURZONNo, Sir, I am not aware of that fact; but I can well conceive that opposite opinions are entertained by the two classes.
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTCan the right honourable Gentleman give us an indication when we shall be able to join issue on this Question, by indicating when the Foreign Office Vote will again be discussed?
MR. CURZONThat is not a Question which should be addressed to me, but I am quite sure that we shall join issue on the first available opportunity.