HC Deb 18 June 1877 vol 234 cc1941-2
MR. RYLANDS

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether his attention has been directed to a letter published in the " Times" of June 15, and alleged to be written by a person of rank in the Turkish capital, dated "Constantinople, May 29, 1877," in which, after detailing the representations made to the Sultan by his brother Nourredeen Effendi, as to the negligence of the Sultan's ministers in conducting the war, the writer asserts that the next day your Ambassador, Mr. Layard, went to the Sultan and spoke much in the same sense, mentioning, too, the fleet remaining at anchor, and Hobart Pasha being here. His Majesty appeared astonished at learning that the Admiral was still here, and said he thought he was gone long since. He immediately called his Aide-de-Camp, Mehemet Pasha, and sent him with orders that the Admiral should take the fleet at once to sea: and, whether there is any foundation for this statement as to the course pursued by Her Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople?

MR. BOURKE

Mr. Speaker, we have received no information upon this subject.

MR. RYLANDS

subsequently asked whether the Government would take means to ascertain whether there was any foundation for the statement referred to?

MR. BOURKE

said, if the hon. Member would give Notice of his Question he would answer it.