§ MR. MUNDELLAasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, If it is true, as stated in the "Times" of this day, in the letter of the correspondent at Philippopolis, that Tossoun Bey and his accomplices, charged with the massacres and burnings at Klissoura and elsewhere, have been acquitted; whether Mr. Baring has quitted Philippopolis, and will no longer attend the trials; and, if so, when and for what cause; and, whether any reports on these trials and on the present condition of Bulgaria have been received by the Government; and, if so, whether they will be at once communicated to the House?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERIt is true that Tossoun Bey and eight other persons who were put upon their trial on charges connected with the outrages in Bulgaria, have been acquitted by the Commission by which they were tried, four members voting for their acquittal, and two 1259 against it. Upon that Mr. Baring stated that he considered the decision objectionable, and contrary to the evidence, and declined to attend any more sittings of the Court. He then withdrew. He communicated with Mr. Jocelyn, our Chargé d'Affaires at Constantinople, who directed him to return to Constantinople. I believe be has done so, and his conduct has been approved by the Government. I believe it is not probable that there will be any more trials, but I am not quite able to say. Reports on the subject have been received, and in due time they will be laid on the Table of the House, but I am unable to say how soon.
§ MR. H. B. SAMUELSONasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether any, and, if so, what punishment has, up to the date of the latest information on the subject, been inflicted upon Shefket Pasha, Hafiz Pasha, Tossoun Bey, Achmet Agha, and the other Turkish officials, whose cruel conduct in Bulgaria was denounced by Mr. Baring; and, if not, whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government again to demand their punishment, in accordance with the terms of Lord Derby's Despatch to Sir Henry Elliot, dated September 24, 1876?
§ MR. BOURKEIn reply to the hon. Member, I have to state that Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Constantinople has been instructed to furnish full details in this matter, and that Report we expect to be furnished in the form suggested by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Greenwich. We expect the information in a few days. According to the last Reports it is understood that the sentences pronounced by the Commission are awaiting confirmation by the Porte. With regard to the second part of the Question, I have to state that Her Majesty's Government have frequently urged upon the Porte the punishment of those who have been found guilty of taking part in these transactions.
§ MR. RYLANDSsaid, the date to which he referred was May 7, long before the massacres at Klissoura, and he asked, Whether, as Sir Henry Elliot was in this country, the Government would obtain information from him as to the important statement in question?
§ MR. BOURKEThat is not a Question which I can answer off-hand, with- 1260 out consulting my noble Friend the Secretary of State; but I hope to be able to answer the Question in a few days, if the hon. Member will be good enough to repeat it.