HC Deb 17 May 1898 vol 57 cc1534-6
MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British Commandant at Candia has allowed the Turkish regular troops to advance and occupy positions hitherto outside the cordon, including the height of Juktuki, which directly dominates the village of Kuri Kasteli; whether the Bashi-Bazouks are allowed to pass freely through the Turkish lines; whether recently they cut down the olives belonging to a Christian village near the British post at Anopolis; whether the servant of an English traveller was recently seized by the Turks in Candia, and thrown into a loathsome dungeon; and whether Colonel Chermside, on being appealed to, refused to interfere, saying that he was there to co-operate with the Turks?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Lord G. HAMILTON,) Middlesex, Ealing

My right honourable Friend has requested me to answer these Questions in his absence. The honourable Member does not give the source of his information.

MR. DILLON

The source of my information is a telegram which appeared in the Manchester Guardian the day before yesterday, which I know to be from a thoroughly reliable source.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA

Whatever the source the allegations contained in that telegram have not yet been brought to the notice of Her Majesty's Government. An arrangement has recently been made, with the consent of both parties, for the extension of the cordon outside Candia, and for the occupation of the salient points by British troops in advance of the Turkish regulars, the native irregulars or Bashi-Bazouks, as they are called, being withdrawn to Candia. Colonel Chermside has, however, informed the Christians that if this experiment does not succeed he will revert to the former system.

MR. DILLON

The noble Lord has answered hardly a single word of the Question. I asked whether the Bashi-Bazouks were allowed to pass freely through the Turkish lines; whether they had cut down the olives of a Christian village; whether the servant of an English traveller had been thrown into a loathsome dungeon; and whether Colonel Chermside refused to interfere, "as he was there to co-operate with the Turks." I will give the name of the English traveller referred to, who is a very distinguished one, privately to the noble Lord.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA

I stated at the commencement of my answer that the allegations contained in the Question of the honourable Member has not yet been brought to the notice of Her Majesty's Government, and that, therefore, I could not answer it; but, of course, if the honourable Member has information which he thinks is authentic, and upon which he relies, and will give it to me, I will communicate with the proper authorities.

MR. DILLON

I will give the name of the traveller privately to the noble Lord, and repeat my Question on Monday.

MR. T. BAYLEY (Derbyshire, Chesterfield)

Will the noble Lord inquire whether these statements are correct or not?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA

Of course, if any information is brought to the notice of any public Department it is the duty of the head of that Department to make inquiry.

MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)

Is not the action in regard to the extension of the cordon directly in the teeth of the agreement?

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! The Question on the Paper has been fully answered. The noble Lord has said that he has no information in his possession.

MR. HEDDERWICK (Wick Burghs)

May I ask whether, as a matter of fact, Colonel Chermside is there to co-operate with the Turks?

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! The Question on the Paper has been fully answered by the noble Lord.