§ MR. OTWAY,who had a Question on the Paper to ask, Whether the joint occupation of Eastern Roumelia has been accepted in principle by the Powers parties to the Treaty of Berlin; if so, by which Powers will the occupation be carried into effect, and by what number and proportion of troops of each Power? said, he would not put that interrogation, as it had already been answered by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham (Mr. Chamberlain). He would, however, put the following Question, of which he had given private Notice to the Government:—Whether any communications have been addressed to Her Majesty's Government relating to the action on the part of the French Ambassador at Constantinople or the French Commissioners in Eastern Roumelia, opposed to the policy of Her Majesty's Government in that part of Turkey; and whether it is true that one of the French Commissioners had been making a tour of the province in company with a general officer, and that they were received by the populace with cries of "Vive la France;" and whether the course pursued by the French Ambassador has met with the approval of the French Government?
§ MR. BOURKESir, in reply to the Questions which my hon. Friend has placed on the Paper, I cannot do more than refer him to the answer of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, and that is, that nothing is settled upon either of the subjects mentioned in those Questions. Therefore, it would be impossible for me to make any statement on them at present. With regard to the last Question, I have to say that my hon. Friend has been kind enough to refer me to The Morning Post, which contains a telegram on which the Question is founded. I think the best answer I can give is to state that Her Majesty's Government are in perfect accord with the Government of France on all these points. Therefore, I do not think it would be convenient that I should notice any proceedings or alleged proceedings 274 of the French diplomatic agents abroad, so long as we are in accord with the Government of France on the subject.