§ MR. E. JENKINSsaid, he wished to put a Question, either to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, or to the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whichever might be most convenient, and in order to have an opportunity of explaining his Question, he would conclude with a Motion. There was a telegram in one of that morning's papers to this effect—
That the difficulties which have arisen between Turkey and England in reference to the introduction of reforms in Asia Minor have been almost entirely removed. Sir Austen Layard has abandoned some of his demands which had been objected to by the Porte. The latter declared that the Treaty respecting Cyprus did not imply the renunciation by Turkey of her independence. Turkey would listen to the counsels of England, but would undertake the reforms herself, without there being any necessity for the installation in Asia Minor of British residents, who would seek to introduce reforms, instead of merely watching for their execution.Now, with reference to certain declarations which had been made from the front Bench regarding the meaning of the Convention, and the assertion that it was not intended on the part of Her Majesty's Government to be a sham, he would ask the right hon. Gentleman Whether this was true—that the Porte had practically refused to give any material guarantees with reference to good government and the reforms to be introduced in Asiatic Turkey; and whether, therefore, the objections that were taken on that—the Opposition—side of the House, that the Paper Convention of June 4 was not a real guarantee, were not sustained by the fact that it had no effective guarantee in it to enable the British Government to say that the reforms which it was to insist upon would be carried out? He wished also to ask, Whether any information had been received from Sir Austen Layard which confirmed the telegram which he had 2089 read; and whether, supposing that the matter was arranged in the interval of the Recess, Her Majesty's Government would make public the arrangement which had been entered into between the Government and Turkey. He begged to move the adjournment of the House.
§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House do now adjourn."— (Mr. Edward, Jenkins.)
§ MR. BOURKE,in reply, said, he had not seen the telegram referred to; but, as he understood it, it gave a totally different opinion of the state of affairs from that implied in the interpretation which had been given of it by the hon. Member. All he could state on the subject was that negotiations were going on between Sir Austen Layard and the Porte, and that when those negotiations had reached the point at which it would be desirable to publish the communications, Her Majesty's Government would have no objection to that being done.
§ Motion, by leave, withdrawn.