Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-04-13
CURZON ON CRETE,
Extended Statement on the Sit.
uation in the East.
WAR Is not AT ALL nfn1HEsr

Dseauss Of The Recent Trouble On the
Raid and Turkey Will Let 1t Go 1t That
Concert Of the Powers DeSended-Great
Things Declared Accomplished Thereby
Already-Reply to Dixie.
London. April 13.-As preliminary to
taking the Easter recess the commons
yesterday heard some more talk on the
Cretan imbroglio. Sir Charles Dixie
complained that an opportunity had not
been given to discuss the governments
policy in Crete. He added that he be-
ieved the majority of the nation sup
ported the Liberals on the eastern cues
ton. A blockade Of the Piraeus, he
contended. though it might upset the
not restore order in Crete. While the
governments policy Of granting auton-
omy to Crete was honest it was not clear
whether the other powers were equally
honest in this matter. Both the sultan
OF Turkey and the king Of Greece had
stated that they were negotiating in
regard to the future of Crete, when they
were brought to the verge CT war by
the action Of the powers.
Object of the European Concert.
The speaker alleged that the concert of
the powers did not come into existence
for the purpose of dealing with Crete,
but to deal with the Armenian question,
witch which the powers had been fruit
lessiy struggling for two years when
they were stirred out of sluggish action
by the dispatch Of Prince George oe
Greece with the Greek topedo fiotilla to
the island of Crete, and by the landing
of Greek troops there. He concluded
with commenting upon the 'imbecility
and helplessness of the concert until
the king of Greece forced their hand.
Plenty of Discussion. Says CurzOn.
The parliamentary secretary for the
foreign Office. Curzon, replied for the
government. He said no one could
rightly complain at lack of opportunity
to discuss the conduct Of the govern
ment. There had been many discus
sions on the subject and on the speeches
Of the Marquis of Salisbury, although it
was true there had not been a vote of
censure, the government having failed
to persuade the Liberal leader, Sir WILL
lam Vernon Harcourt, to repeat in the
house the martial grafton so much adj
mn GU ~ ANOi VIGIL, Willie tHc SlA ue-
bates on Crete in the house of commons
the matter had only been raised twice
and in the French chamber of deputies
only once. In Australia, Italy and Ger
many the statements of their govern
ment's policy had been reiterated so fire.
quently as to become tedious.
Considers Autonomy Ample and Clear.
Sir Charles Dixie had complained that
autonomy as proposed for Crete was not
clearly defined; but. Cuzon pointed out.
the proclamation stated that it implied
freedom in the internal affairs of the
island. He therefore could truthfully
say that there was no ground whatever
for the suspicion of Sir Charles Dixie
that this autonomy. which the govern
ment desired to make ample and clear.
was regarded from any other point of
view by the other powers. Referring
to the negotiations which are said to
have taken place between Greece and
Turkey direct for the settlement Of the
Cretan question. Curzon said that If
there had been negotiations on the SUBJ
ject between the sultan and Greece her
ma1esty's government knew nothing
about them.