The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-02-25
BLOT UPON CIVILIZATION.
MR.. LABOUCHERE so CHARAC-
TERIZES THE SULTAN OF TtR-
KEY IN A SPEECH.
The LIBERAL LEADERS SPEAK OUT.
Denounce England's Part in Sunday $
Bombardment-M. Hanitoux EX-
plains the Position of the Pow
ers in the French Deputies.

London, Feb. 22.-The parliamentary
secretary for the foreign office, Mr.
George y. Curzon, answering a question
in the house of commons today, said that
the presence of Greek troops in the island
of Crete so far seemed to have added to
the disturbances. The government was
not in favor of delegating to the Greek
forces the task of keeping order in. the
interior of the island. Mr.. Curzon fur
! ,her denied that the foreign warships
had attacked the Greeks. He said the
foreign fleets had no choice but to check
the Greek advance in the island of Crete
This statement was greeted by oppo-
sition cries of shame" and ministerial
cheers.
| Mr.. Laboucherc moved the adjourn
mcnt of the house in order to call attcn-
ton to the firing on Greek forces by the
foreign warships, and all the opposition
forces rose in support of the proposition
Mr.. Labouchere said the question was
not party one, but a national one, and
| added:
The liberals will do their utmost to
prevent further action in behalf of that
miserable cur. the foul blot upon civiliza-
! ton, the sultan of Turkey"
The speaker pointed out that the rules
of the house called for more respectful
language toward Il foreign sovereign,
whereupon Mr.. Labouchere apologized
explaining that he was carried away by
the statements of Mr.. Gladstone and 9th
ers.
Mr.. John Dillon, chairman of the Irish
parliamentary party, in scconding Mr..
l-abouchere's motion 10 adjourn, said the
house had been silent too long. Her mai
esty's ships had committed an outrage
III hrlng upon people who, after cen
turles of oppression, were risking their
lives for freedom
Mr.. A. j. Balfour, the first lord of the
treasury and government leader, dwelt
upon the difficulty and danger of the
present crisis. The powers, he explained,
were absolutely unanimous in agreeing
that they should do everything to avert
war. The fears arising from the situa.
ton. Mr.. Balfour continued, were shared
by responsible statesmen throughout the
length and breadth of Europe. He added:
'Wlll any one maintain that after the
powers had occupied the towns of Crete
they We're to fold their arms and stay
away! L desire to conceal nothing. but
regarding the future the government is
absolutely bound by certain conditions of
international communication.
Mr.. Balfour explained that he could
only say that the government recognized
clearly that to leave the Greeks to upset
ut will the good work Europe had en-
deavorcd to accomplish would fall far
short of the international duties which the
government had undertaken.
Sir William Vernon Harcourt, the lib
cral leader. who had been loudly cheered
by the opposition, said that now was the
time when the voice of England ought to
be heard. Continuing, Sir William asked:
What is the interpOsition of England?
Why are we in Crete? What are we do
ing there?
"'Thc only policy worthy of the govern
ment of England" said Sir William sis
to dctach Crete from the Turkish power.
Public opinion is shocked at England ap-
pearing as the active opponents of the
Greeks. The bOmbardment has placed
England in a false position in the eyes of
the world. | protest that Great Britain
should not take up arms against pco-
pie fighting for freedom
Mr.. Labouchcre's motion was rejected
by n vote of 243 to 135.
Several liberals supported Mr.. La
bouchere. dwelling on the stain on the
British flag because of the firing on the
Crctans.
The first lord of the admiralty. Mr..
George j. Goschcn. said the bombardmrnt
was to be regretted. but it was ncccss-
ty. The insurgents could not be allowed
TO place guns where they commanded a
town which was occupied by foreign ma
rincs. He protested against Sir William
Vernon Harcourt'S Interpretation of the
bombardment as being intended to re-
press Il people fighting for freedom.
Mr.. Goschen said that the government |
had done its best to hold an even scale |
between Christians and Mussulmans.
The vote was then taken, with the re-
suit as already indicated.