§ EARL PERCY (Kensington, S.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affaire whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that orders have been issued to the Valis of Salonica and Monastir to arm the Mussulman civilian population; and whether representations have been or will be made to the Sultan by His Majesty's Government urging him to discourage such measures, with a view to allaying apprehension and preventing misunderstanding.
§ LORD CRANBORNEHis Majesty's Government have not heard that any orders of the nature referred to have been issued by the Porte. The most recent instructions issued by the Grand Vizier to the Valis in Macedonia are to the effect that regular troops and police only are to be used for any repressive measures which may be necessary, that the civilian population are on no account to be employed for such a purpose, and that the Mussulman population must not enter into any conflict with their Christian compatriots.