The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-04-15
IN HOUSE OF COMMONS.
A Cretan Debate of Unusual Warmth
ids s Took Place.

Took Place.
London, April 12.-On the motion to-
day of Mr.. Balfour the government
leader, that the house OF commons adj
journ over Easter, Sir Chas. Dixie,
radical member of the Forest of Dean d.
vision of Worcestershire. expressed re-
greet that the government. before ad-
journing, had not afforded the house an
opportunity of discussing its policy in
regard to Crete. The liberal party. said
Sir Charles. was strongly united in this
matter, in spite of reports to the con-
trary.
Continuing, Sir Charles Dixie said he
believed the majority of the nation sup
ported the liberals in the eastern ques-
ton. A blockade of the Piraeus, he con-
tended. though ii might upset the king
and the kingdom of Greece, could not
restore order in Crete. While the gov
ernment's policy of granting autonomy 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 they were negotiating in regard
to the future of Crete when they were
brought to the verge of war by the ac-
ton of the powers. The speaker pointed
out that the concert of the powers did
not come into existence to deal with
Crete. but to deal with the Armenian
question, with which the powers had
been fruitlessly struggling for two years
when they were stirred by the dispatch
of the prince of Greece with Greek
torpedo tlotilla to the island of Crete and
by the landing of Greek troops there.
He concluded with commenting upon the
imbecility and inactivity of the concert
mill u,
her hand.
Parliamentary Secretary Curzon re-
Piled for the government. He said no
one could rightly complain at lack of op-
portunity to discuss the conduct of the
said that in Austria, Italy and Germany
the statements of their governments
policy had been reiterated so frequently
as to become legions. Sir Chas. Dixie
had complained that autonomy, as pro-
posed for Crete, was not clearly defined,
but MIR. CurzOn pointed out the state
ment that placed freedom from all con-
troll of the Turkish government in the
Internal affairs of the island, and it was
not regarded from any other point of
view by the powers. Mr.. CurzOn said
that if there had been negotiations be-
tween the sultan and Greece, her males
tvs government knew nothing about
them, AS to withdrawal of the Greek
troops from Crete, Mr.. Curzon asserted
that this would open the door leading
to a most immediate and pacific settle
ment of the question.
Thousands of helpless and defenseless
people had been protected by the forces
of the powers, and their admirals have
done incstimable work in their behalf In
the meantime active discussions were
proceeding between the powers relative
to the question of appointing governor
for the Island of Crete and instituting
militia OH the basis of the autonomist
constitution promised.
MIR. Curzon insisted that the govern
ment had strained every nerve to pre-
vent an outbreak of hostilities between
Turkey and Greece, which, he claimed,
the government could only regard as
calamitous to Greece and as constituting
q grave menace to the peace of Europe.
The government of her majesty had
taken part in the joint circular sent to
Constantinople and Athens to the effect
that the aggressor would not be allowed
to profit by such action.
The Greek raid into Macedonia the
government was assured was entirely I'M
authorized by the Greek government
nounced that if the raid was not re-
peated Turkey would not treat it as a
casus bclli, as she might have done.
MIR. CurzOn declared that the concert
Of the powers had not been helpless
He insisted that the concert had saved
Europe from general war, had pre-
vented greater blOodshed in Crete and
had localized the disturbances on the
GraecO-Turkish frontier. He thought
no one would deny that the policy of
the government-peace in Europe and
the liberation of Cretc-was a good one
but if the opposition had an alternative
let the house hear it.
Mr.. Curzon was frequently cheerrd
during his speech.
In reply, Sir VIM. Vernon Harcourt
said that although the government de-
clined his challenge he would not de-
cline its challenge made now.
MIR. Balfour, Sir William continued
complained that his motion was not suf-
ficiently censOrious, but if the motion
had been carried it would have turned
out the government. What more did
her majesty's government want? Why
did not the government substitute for
it vote of confidence? The reason
was, Sir William Harcourt said, that
the government would not face the ques-
ton of the forces of the crown being
employed against Greece. Never before
lie asserted, had government declined
to meet such a motion or shrunk from
such an issue, and it was not the duty
of the opposition to record the views of
the united liberals
The present concert of Europe, said Sir
William, was started to protect the Ar
menians. Now the house was told by the
government that the Armenials must he
abandoned, because if the Turks were
not allowed to massacre the Armenans
the Christian powers would massacre
each other. On the Crete question Brit
ain has been backing the wrong horse
and bOmbarding the wrong people. The
powers had invaded country not theirs
and were they to impose a form of gov
eminent which the Cretans did not de-
sire? The only difference between other
powers and France is that the latter had
been invited and the powers had not.
Suppose autonomy were refused. did the
powers propose to fight to compel its ac-
ceptance?
Mr.. Balfour. replying, said the leader
of the opposition had said many hard
things concerning the porte. but he had
not said whether he desired England to
tell that she meant to resume her "splen-
did isolation" which be (HarcourD had
attacked year ago. The presence of the
powers in Crete had the approval of the
porte. There was therefore no violation
of international law. The central ques-
ton was whether Great Britain has done