CRETE (MINISTERIAL STATEMENT). (Hansard, 25 February 1897)

THE EARL OF DUNRAVEN
I desire to ask a question of the noble Marquess at the head of Her Majesty's Government—of which I have given private notice—namely, whether he is in a position to give this House any information as to the situation of affairs in Crete, and as to the progress of negotiations between the Powers with a view to the adoption of Measures for the pacification of Crete and for the reorganisation of the administration of that island?

*THE PRIME MINISTER (The MARQUESS of SALISBURY),
who was received with cheers, said: I do not know that we have got quite so far as my noble Friend seems to anticipate, but we feel that it is not convenient or desirable that we should abstain from informing the House, so far as we can do so, of the policy which we are anxious to press, and which we think our allies agree with us in pursuing. I will read to the House, as the best form of placing them in possession of the actual facts of the moment, a telegram that was sent late last night to the five Powers:— Inform Government to which you are accredited that Her Majesty's Government propose to make the following public declaration of the policy which they are prepared to pursue and which they believe to be in accordance with the views of their allies:—1. That the establishment of administrative autonomy in Crete is in their judgment a necessary 1106 condition to the termination of the international occupation. 2. That, subject to the above provision, Crete ought in their judgment to remain a portion of the Turkish Empire. 3. That Turkey and Greece ought to be informed by the Powers of this resolution. 4. That if either Turkey or Greece persistently refuse, when required, to withdraw their naval and military forces from the island, the Powers should impose their decision by force upon the State so refusing. I wish to draw attention to the words "when required." It docs not follow that, certainly in the case of Turkey, all the troops can be withdrawn immediately. Mere questions of police would prevent such a result as that. On the other hand, it is evident that eventually, at all events, the withdrawal of the Turkish troops is a necessary condition of administrative autonomy, and, therefore, the Turkish troops will ultimately have to be withdrawn, except so far as they may be kept—I am not anticipating the judgment of the Powers—except so far as they may be kept, as in the case of Samos, and, for many years, in the case of Servia, simply as an indication of sovereignty. On that I do not wish at all to anticipate the judgment of the Powers, but for all its effective purposes and for all influence upon the Government or the daily life of the inhabitants the Turkish troops ultimately will evidently have to be withdrawn when automony is established. The Greek troops, I imagine, will be required by the Powers to withdraw at an earlier date. I have nothing further to state, because, though I believe, after much intercommunication, that this is the course which the Powers all desire to take, I cannot go further until I know upon each point of detail what their decision is; that is one of the necessary consequences of acting in concert. But, of course, if these principles which we have ventured to lay down are recognised by them, as I believe they will be, as those which animate their policy, it is not possible that the present state of things in Crete can indefinitely continue. [Cheers.] There is no other matter which I have to state. I am sorry that I cannot carry my information as far as the question of my noble Friend, but it is evident that we must advance by steps, and the steps are necessarily measured by the assent which will follow from the consultation of the Powers. ["Hear!"]

THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY
The statement of the noble Marquess is one naturally of great gravity to the situation of affairs in Crete and all the conditions which surround the question; and the noble Marquess, therefore, will not be greatly surprised if I wish to reserve any observations which I may wish to make until I have had time to consider the matter. ["Hear, hear!"]