The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-04-13

the question of appointing government
Tor the island OF Crete, and instituting
militia on the basis of the autonomist
legislation proposed. Mr.. Curzon then
turned to the question of the possibility
of war between Greece and Turkey. He
insisted that the government had strained
every nerve to prevent an outbreak of
hostilities. which, he claimed, the gov
eminent would only regard calamitOus
10 Greece and as constituting a grave
menace to the peace of Europe. The gov
eminent of her majesty, he continued.
had shown the utmost forbearance and
regard for the Susceptibilities of all con-
cerned. and had taken part in the joint
declarations at Constantinople and Athens
to the effect that the aggressor would
not be allowed TO profit by such actions.
As TO Greek raids in Macedonia Mr..
Curzon assured the house that from in
formation which the government had re-
ceived, the raid was unauthorized by the
Greek government and was not partici-
pated in by. the Greek regular troops.
Further, IL had been disaVowed by the
Greek government and the government of
Turkey had announced that if the raid
was not repeated Turkey would not treat
it as caSuS belli as she might have
done.
After making these statements Mr..
Curzon again paid attention to the
Liberal leader He said that in his
speech at Monmouth, in October last Sir
William Harcourt advocated friendship
with the other powers but now he at
tackled the government for adopting his
suggestion.
Mr. Curzon denied that the concert of
the powers had been helpless. During the
past few months. he insisted, the concert
had saved Europe from a general war
had prevented great 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 for peace in Europe and the
liberation of Crete was a good one, but
If the opposition had an alternative let
the house hear it.
Mr.. Curzon was frequently cheered dur
ing the course of his speech.
In reply Sir William Harcourt said that
although the government declined his
challenge he would not decline its chal-
lenge now made, although he was of the
opinion that the matter was of such I
Importance that it ought to have been
discussed on a definite issue. The gov
principles were liberty for Crete and
peace for Europe But he asked. what
sort OF liberty for Crete2 Was 1t the
kind the Cretans desired? The explana-
tons given. the speaker insisted. were
not given in the house of commons, but
at smoking concerts and it seemed to him
that this showed a. desire to disparage the
house of commons. Therefore. he re-
GREETED that the government had under
taken to stifle the discussion in the house
as no government had ever done before.
Mr.. Labouchere said that in view of
the thorough disfrust felt in the gov
eminent and of the serious crisis east
he did not think the eye of parliament
ought to be closed for a fortnight. He
therefore moved that the house do not
adjourn.
This motion was rejected by vote of
q to 49, and Mr.. Balfour's motion to
adjourn over Easter was carried. Only
the Radical members supported Labou
chere'S proposition.
The front opposition bench and the
other Liberals abstained from voting.