The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-04-13

ported the Liberals in the Eastern
question. A blockade of the Pireans, he
Gontended, though 1t might upset the
King and the Kingdom of Greece, could
governments policy OF granting
autonomy to Crete was honest. it was
| not clear whether the other powers we're
equally honest in this matter. Both the
sultan Of Turkey and the King of Greece
nao stated they were negotiating in RS
gard to the future of Crete, when they
were brought TO the verge of war by the
action OF the Powers.
The speaker pointed out that the con-
cert OF the Powers did not come into ex-
lstence for the purpose Of dealing with
Crete. but, to deal with the Armenian
question, with which the Powers had
been fruitlessly struggling for two years
past. whom they were stirred out OF slug
gish action by the despatch of Prince
George of Greece with the Greek torpedo
hotilla to the island OF Crete, and by the
landing of Greek troops there.
He conluded with commenting upon
the imbecility and helplsssness of the
ooncsrt until the King Of Greece forced
the hands.
The Parliamentary secretary for the
foreign office, Mr.. George N. Curzon, re-
piled for the government. He said that
no one could rightly complain at lack of
opportunity to discuss the conduct of the
government. There bad been many dis
oussions on ths subject and on the
speeches Of the Marquis of Salisbury, al
though 1t was true there had not been
vote of csnsure, the government having
failed to psrsuade the Liberal loader, Sir
William Vernon Harcourt, to repeat In
the House, tho martial oiation 10 much
"a - t. he sd
debates on Crete In tho Honae of Com
mons. the matter had only been raised
twice and In the French Chamber Of
Deputies only once.
Since the blockade, Mr. Cursor pointed
out many Thousands Of helpless and de-
fenoelsss people have been protected BY
the forces Of the Powers and sheir ad
mirsls have done an sstimable work In
the relief Of the belsaeursd and the
saving of life, but, in the face Of explicit
warnings, the insurgents had persisted
In their endecvors to starve out the
Turkish sarrisons at outly ing posts and
obtained command of the outposts COM
manding the towns occupied by the forces
Of the Powers. They had also tried to
cut of the water supply and had even
engaged in nghting with the European
| troops. But. Mr.. Curzon was glad to
say, during the last few days the situs-
tion had become calmer.
In the meantime active discussions are
proceeding between the powers relative
to the question Of appointing governor
for the island of Crete and instituting =
militia on the basis of the autonomist
constitution promised.
AS to the Greek raid into Macedonia,
Mr.. Curzon assured the House, that from
information which the government had
| received, tue raid was entirely unauthor-
lied By tho Greek government, and was
| not participated In by the Greek regular
troops. Further, 1t had been disavo owed
| BY the Greek government and the govern
Ment of Turkey had announced that II
the raid was not repeated Turkey would
not treat it as s'casus belli, az ahs might
have done. After making these stato-
ments. Mr.. Curzon again paid attention
| bis speech at Monmouth, in October last,
Sir william Haioourt advocated friend
ship with the other powers, but, now he
attacked the government for adopting his
suggestion. Mr.. Curzon denied the con-
cert Of the Powers had been helpless.
| During the past few months. he insisted,
the concert had saved Europe from q gen
eraI war, had prevented greater bloodshsd
| in Crete aud had localized the disturb.
ances on the Ereoo- Turkish frontier. he
thought no one would deny that the
policy OF tie government Fence IN
Europe and the liberation of Crete, was a
good one. But the opposition had an
alternative. Let the House hear it.
| In reply, Sir william Harcourt said
that although the government declined
his challenge, he would not decline its
challenge now mnde, although he was Of
tho opinion the matter was Of 10 great
i'm nportance that it ought to have been
discussed on n definite issue.
Mr.. Balfour, the Liberal LEADER, oon-
tlnued, complained that his motion was
not sufficiently oensorious, but, if the
motion had been carried 1t would have
turned out the government. What more
did Her Majesty's government wantf
Why did not the government substitute
| for It q vote of conhdencef The reason
was, Sir William Harcourt saIi that the
government would not faoe the question
of the forces of the Crown being en-
ploysd against Greece. Never before, he
asserted. hntl q government declined to
| paeet such q motion or shrunk from such
an issue, end it was now the duty of the
opposition to record the views of the
united Liberals.
William, said It's principles were liberty
for Crete and peace for Europe. But, he
asked, what sort of liberty for Crete2
Was 1t the kind the Cretans desiredf The
explanations given, the speaker insisted,
were not given in the House Of Com
mons, but at smoking concerts and 1t
seemed to him that this showed desirs
to disparags the House of Commons.
Therefore, he regretted the government
had undertaken to stihs discussion in
the House an no government bad ever
| done before.
After an extended debate Mr.. Balfour'a
motion to adjourn over Easter was
| An priad