HC Deb 07 May 1860 vol 158 cc751-2
MR. HADFIELD

said, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether (under 14th Protocol, page 59, of Conferences of the Plenipoten- tiaries of Paris, 1856, relative to the Treaty of Peace) there has been a revision of the stipulations which regulate the Commercial Relations of the Porte with other Powers, or in the position of Foreigners resident in Turkey; and whether (agreeably to the recorded wish of the Plenipotentiaries) a deliberation has yet been opened at Constantinople since the conclusion of Peace between the Porte and the Representatives of other Powers, with the view of attaining the twofold object, in such a manner as to afford entire satisfaction to all legitimate interests; and, if there has been no such revision and deliberation, whether this country, in its Commercial Relations with the Porte, ranks with the most favoured Nations (with Russia especially), in all Commercial transactions, the residence of British Subjects in Turkey, Fiscal and other Duties; and whether any beneficial or other change has taken place since the commencement of the War with Russia, or is intended; and are negotiations in progress to facilitate the Commerce of this Country with Turkey?

LORD JOHN RUSSELL

said, in answer to the hon. and learned Gentleman, he begged to say that his noble Friend (Viscount Palmerston) two years ago had answered the latter part of the question, and since that time there had not been any revision of the stipulations which regulated the commercial relations of the Porte with other Powers, nor to the best of his knowledge had there been any deliberation between the Ministers of the Porte and the Representatives of other Powers. There had been various negotiations going on, and Sir Henry Bulwer had been very active in conducting those negotiations founded on the Treaty of 1838 on the subject; but Sir Henry stated that with regard to "the most favoured nations clause," no doubt we were entitled to the benefit of that clause. Sir Henry Bulwer had been engaged in endeavouring to improve our commercial relations in Turkey, but hitherto no very essential alterations had been obtained.