§ VISCOUNT FOLKESTONE (for Mr. STAVELEY HILL)asked The Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Her Majesty's Ambassador at 501 Constantinople has been instructed to call The attention of The Advisers of The Sultan to The allegations of The grave irregularities in The trial of Midhat Pasha, and to urge upon His Majesty that the execution of that distinguished statesman upon The result of such a trial may be regarded as a judicial murder brought about by political rivals?
§ MR. M'COANasked The Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether The Christoferides Effendi, who presided at the recent trial of Midhat Pasha, is identical with the person of the same name who, in May 1871, was an employé of The Turkish Ministry of Police?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKESir, with regard to the first Question, I have to say that this is a somewhat delicate matter. I have already said that communications are passing. Looking to the object which the hon. Member has in view, it would not be wise that I should make any public statement at the present time. The second Question I must answer in the affirmative.
§ MR. M'COANsaid, that as the hon. Baronet had answered his Question in the affirmative, he hoped the House would permit him to add a short rejoinder to that answer. In view of his ability to prove against Christoferides Effendi The grossest corruption in other political functions, he appealed to the Government, in the interests of justice and humanity, to use its influence with the Turkish Government to procure for Midhat Pasha a new trial before an impartial tribunal, or, at least, to have him banished to Europe instead of to some remote Turkish Province, where his early death would be certain.