§ MR. EDWIN JAMESsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for 879 Foreign Affairs, Whether it has been decided in Conference on the Affairs of Syria at Paris that the Occupation of Syria by French Troops shall be prolonged beyond the period stipulated originally by the Convention; and, if so, for what period; and whether the Representative of the Ottoman Porte present in such Conference protested against any longer Occupation?
§ LORD JOHN RUSSELLSir, it has not been decided that the occupation of Syria by French troops shall be prolonged beyond the period originally stipulated by the Convention; and, therefore, with respect to the second part of the Question, as to the period of such prolonged occupation, it is not necessary that I should give any answer. The Representative of the Ottoman Porte has not protested against any longer occupation, but I will state shortly what passed on this subject. The Representative of the Ottoman Porte stated in Congress that in the opinion of the Sultan's Government it was unnecessary to prolong the occupation of Syria by foreign troops; but he also stated that if the Powers of Europe thought the defined period of occupation should be prolonged he would refer the matter to his Government. No decision was taken on that statement, but the matter has been referred to the several Governments concerned.