HC Deb 04 February 1878 vol 237 cc925-6
MR. JAMES

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Lord Derby's attention has been called to a statement contained in Mr. Layard's Despatch, dated Therapia, May 30, 1877, laid before Parliament at the close of last Session, in which, with reference to the Bulgarian outrages of the previous year, Mr. Layard writes— I grieve to say there are persons, and amongst them Englishmen," who boast that they have invented these stories with the object of writing down Turkey, to which they were impelled by a well-known hand; whether Mr. Layard has been asked for any further explanation of this statement; whether his reply has been received; and, if there is any objection to lay a Copy of it before Parliament?

MR. BOURKE

Lord Derby's attention was called to the paragraph mentioned in the Question by a letter from the hon. Member himself to Lord Derby, and the letter of the hon. Member was sent to Mr. Layard, calling his attention to the paragraph. Mr. Layard's answer has been received, which is to the effect that he had no observation to make upon it.