§ MR. HOLTasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether his attention has been called to a statement that there are sundry Protestant churches in Bulgaria which have enjoyed a fair amount of religious liberty under the government of the Porte, but have been at various times persecuted by the authorities of the Greek Church with considerable severity; that before the War began some Protestants were threatened with increased sufferings on the arrival of the Russian Army in their country, and that a fresh persecution has recently commenced; also that the cruel oppression exercised in Bulgaria at the present time by the authorities of the Greek Church is as great as that experienced in England before the Reformation; and, whether this statement be substantially true; and, if so, whether the Government will endeavour to secure in any arrangement which shall have the sanction of the Powers of Europe sufficient provision for religious freedom in Bulgaria?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERMr. Speaker, I understand that Her Majesty's Government have not received any very recent information respecting the statements to which my hon. Friend refers, statements which 1055 appear to be derived from the letter of a Bulgarian pastor now in England, and which, has been very widely circulated. If my hon. Friend would look at Blue Book No. 1 on Turkey he will there find, at pages 120, 392, 456, and other places, that Her Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople has repeatedly exerted his influence on behalf of Protestant Dissenters; and Her Majesty's Government will not fail to use their endeavours, when the occasion arises, to secure for them and the other inhabitants of the Ottoman Empire such guarantees for their religious freedom as may be obtained.