The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-02-26

London, Feb. %. TT ere was a large
attendance of peers and visitors at the
opening of the sitting of the house of
lords this evening. Severa! peeresses
We're present aud IL number of bishops
other shan those entitled to sit in the
house of lords, together with some mem
hers of the house OF commons. looked on
from the galleries.
Soon after The house came to order.
Lord Dunraven arose and made II formal
request that the government INTERN the
house as to the exact situation in Crete
and the governments negotiations with
the powers looking to II settlement of the
difficulties.
Lord salisbury upon rising to reply was
tremendously checred and when the cheer
ing had subsidized said that Il telegram had
been sent to the British representative Mt
the capital of each of the combined Euro.
penn powers, defining Great Brituin's
position. The whole Incident occupied
twenty minutes
subsequently the Earl of Kimberley
held IL conference with Sir William Har-
court in IL private room
The conservatives are unanimous in
their approval of the nc-hod of settle
ment OF the Crctan difficulty
l.orli Salisbury said that it did not fol-
low that the Turkish troops would ne
nevertheless was Il necessary condition TO
the establishment Of autonomy ami they
would therefore he withdrawn
me premier then gave as instances of
autonomous administration the form of
government which now obtains in the
island of Samoa, a'rurkish possession, and
which Formerly prevailed in Servia, and
proceeded to say he imagined that the
powers would require the tircek troops in
s,.as. H.. 80 i
than the Turkish troops, but he was un.
able TO give any further details until he
knew what decis ion had been reached by
the powers. Still it was his belief that
the powers recognized the principles he
had announced as animating theif.
policy.
Lord Kimberly who was minister OF
foreign affairs in the cabinet of Lord Sal
isbury, said tEat the statement Just made
by Lord Salisbury was one of great gray.
lty and would require careful consitlera-
ton on his part before he felt prepared to
make any observations thereon
The house theu adjourned
The floor and galleries of the house of
connmons We're crowded with members
anu spectators ut the opening of to.day's
sitting IN view of the announcements in
the newspapers this morning that the
government would define their policy in
regard to.Cretc
shortly after TIL" speaker had taken his
seat, Right Hon. y. j. Balfour, first lord
or the treasury and the government
leader IN the house of commons. made Il
statement similar To the one made bv
Lord Salisbury in the house of lords. at
the conclusion of which Sir William Hur-
court said that the statement concerning
tile Cretan situation and the methods to-.
he employed in its settlement, which has
lust been land before the house by Mr..
Balfour, VAS of the gravest character. 1t
affected the present and future relations
of Great Britain with the powers OF Eu-
rome, besides Turkey and Greece, and it's
gravity was especially shown in its last
paragraph rolating to the employment of
force III Il t. event of the persistent refusal
OF IurSey or Greece TO comply with the
demands OF the powers. He requested
me government to fix an early date for
debating the matter