§ 4. Mr. WALTER GUINNESSasked whether the right hon. Gentleman will ask for the consent of the Turkish Government to the publication of their statement on the subject of atrocities alleged to have been committed by the allies in the Balkan war?
§ Sir E. GREYNo, Sir. The publication of statements or allegations made by foreign Governments is a matter for those Governments, and not for His Majesty's Government.
§ 5. Mr. W. GUINNESSasked whether the right hon. Gentleman will publish the Consular reports which have been received on the subject of massacres and outrages in the Balkan war?
§ Sir E. GREYWhile the war between Turkey and Italy was proceeding I was pressed to publish Consular reports respecting alleged massacres or outrages that had taken place previously under Turkish administration in Macedonia. There was also a request for information respecting alleged excesses during the Italian-Turkish war in Tripoli. I was unable to comply with any of these requests, and must adhere to the same line now. Such reports as I receive that seem to be well founded have been brought to the notice of the Governments that now control the territories in which outrages are said to have occurred.
§ Mr. W. GUINNESSMay I ask whether it has not been the practice of the right hon. Gentleman in recent years to publish many Consular reports dealing with atrocities by Christians and Mahomedans and the like in Macedonia, and must not his refusal to publish such returns at the present juncture, dealing, as it is believed, chiefly with Christian atrocities, only lend additional colour to the present disquieting rumours?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is making a speech.
§ Mr. MORRELLIs there any ground for the insinuation that the atrocities were committed chiefly by Christians?
§ Mr. W. GUINNESSDid not the right hon. Gentleman tell me that he was bringing these atrocities to the notice of Governments of Sofia and Servia, and not in Constantinople?
§ Sir E. GREYThe House will remember that I was very strongly pressed during the Italian-Turkish war to publish reports which I received respecting outrages alleged to have occurred under Turkish administration in Macedonia. I was pressed on the very ground that the hon. Member now alleges that it had been our habit to publish these reports. I refused to publish them because war was in progress between Italy and Turkey. I am applying exactly the same considerations now to the reports which I have received. I would further add that there is a great difference between reports received during the time of ordinary administration and reports received while a war is in progress of which the Consuls could not have the same accurate knowledge, and on which it is very difficult for the Consuls to say how far particular reports are well founded.