§ MR. OTWAYasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether the Government of Russia have relinquished their demand on the Ottoman Government for a sum of about forty millions sterling as indemnity, according to a stipulation in the so-called preliminary Treaty of 1846 San Stefano; and, if not, whether Her Majesty's Government have taken any steps in consequence of this demand to safeguard the interests of numerous British subjects to whom the Revenues of Turkey have been already assigned as security for money due to them?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERI think the best answer I can give to the hon. Gentleman is to refer him to what will be found in the Protocols when they come to be distributed. He will find in the despatch recently presented, written by my noble Friend (the Marquess of Salisbury), that he refers to this subject, and that he gives a short account of the declarations made by the Russian Plenipotentiaries and the English Plenipotentaries on this subject; and he concludes with these observations—
It results from those declarations that Turkey is not internationally bound, and cannot be compelled, to pay any portion of the sum named until the claims of all creditors anterior to the war are paid in full.The matter, however, will best be seen by examining the Protocols.
§ MR. OTWAYMay I ask if the stipulations of the Treaty of San Stefano are in force as between Turkey and Russia, or as modified by the Treaty of Berlin?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERI think the hon. Gentleman had better give Notice of the Question.