§ MR. BRYCE (Aberdeen, S.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Prince Alexander of Bulgaria has already abdicated or not; and, if he has done so, whether any and what steps have been taken with a view to the appointment of his successor?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.)In answer to the hon. Gentleman's Question, I have to say that, as far as Her Majesty's Govern- 1327 ment have been informed, no act of abdication has been performed by Prince Alexander. With regard to the future, any arrangement can only, according to public law and International engagements, be made upon the basis of the Treaty of Berlin, which gives no separate or exclusive right to any one Power, and must, according to that instrument, depend upon the joint and consentient act of the signatories to that Treaty. Her Majesty's Government have no separate engagement, duties, or interests in Bulgaria. Their duties and engagements are taken in common with the Great Powers of Europe, and according to the Treaty of Berlin the assent of the Great Powers to the election of a Prince of Bulgaria must be unanimous. I think I ought to say that Her Majesty's Government had hoped much from the ability and great qualities of Prince Alexander. They deplore the treachery and violence by which his reign was interrupted, and they would hear with great regret that he has finally decided to abandon the work which he had undertaken.
§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W., and Sligo, S.)That is poor consolation.
§ SIR HENRY TYLER (Great Yarmouth)asked whether the Government were not prepared at the present crisis, which was a very serious one, to say a few firm words? [Cries of "Oh!" and "Order!"]
§ [No reply.]