§ Sir C. Napierasked whether the right hon. Baronet was in possession of information which would enable him to state that the Turkish government had made compensation to the Emir Beschir, and to the inhabitants of the Lebanon, for the property which was destroyed during the late war in Syria?
§ Sir R. Peelreplied, that her Majesty's Government bad constantly urged on the government of the Porte the justice and necessity of making compensation for the losses sustained by the Syrian population during the war. Her Majesty's Government had frequently received assurances from the government of the Porte, that in some cases full reparation had been made, and that other cases were under consi- 308 deration. Since the hon. and gallant Member asked a question on a former evening respecting the Emir Beschir, the Government had received a communication from Sir Stratford Canning at Constantinople, the substance of which, as regarded the Emir, he had no objection to state to the House. Sir Stratford Canning had availed himself of every opportunity of pressing on the government of the Porte the necessity of settling the claims of the Emir Beschir. In Turkey, however, as in other countries, claims were contested, and it happened that the Turkish government disputed the amount of the Emir Beschir's claim, and considerable delay had consequently arisen; but Sir S. Canning, in his last communication, received on the 6th February, said that the Effendi had stated, in answer to a question put by him, that a firm an had been issued for making compensation to the sufferers in the late troubles, out of a tribute about to be raised. Of course, he could not make himself responsible in the matter; he could only say, that the British Government lost no opportunity of pressing on the government of the Porte the necessity of making compensation to the Emir Beschir, as well as to the inhabitants of the Lebanon generally, for the losses sustained by them.
§ Dr. Bowringwished, while they were on the subject of Syria, to put a question to the right hon. Baronet. A chief named Achmet Reschid had, in consequence of our interference at Constantinople, been nominated to the government of a district in Syria. He (Dr. Bowring) had been given to understand that this chief was set aside and imprisoned by order of the Turkish government of Syria. He wanted to know if the right hon. Baronet had any knowledge of the fact?
§ Sir R. Peelhoped he was not to be made responsible for the acts of other governments. The British Government would use its influence to induce the government of the Porte to keep its engagements; but he hoped hon. Gentlemen would act upon their own doctrine of non intervention, and not press him to speak, as if they considered him the minister of the Porte, and responsible for the acts of that government. He could only say, that the influence of the British Government should be exerted to the utmost to induce the Porte to fulfil the engagements which it had made; but he would not go 309 a step further; he disclaimed all responsibility for the acts of the Turkish government.
§ Sir C. Napiersaid, that a considerable portion of the property of the inhabitants of the Lebanon had been destroyed by the troops under his command, by his orders. He wished to know in the event of the Turkish government refusing compensation on that account, whether the British Government would consider itself bound to make it?
§ Sir R. Peelsaid, he was not prepared to contract any engagements of that kind. He apprehended that we interfered for the purpose of restoring the dominion of the Porte in Syria; Turkey gladly availed herself of our assistance, and the result was the establishment of the supremacy of her power. He thought, therefore, that, as far as considerations of equity went, Turkey ought to make the required compensation. It was rather-too much to ask him to make compensation for acts which were considered necessary for the establishment of Turkish supremacy. If the gallant Officer would favour him with an account of the details of his operations, and the extent of the damage he had done, he (Sir R. Peel) would undertake to submit it to the consideration of the Porte.