§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If he can yet say whether the very first step required by the provisions of the 23rd Article of the Treaty of Berlin for granting autonomous constitutions to the several provinces of European Turkey, viz., the appointment of special commissions for each province, has yet been taken in regard to any; and, if any, to what province, or if any real step whatever has been taken or is likely soon to be taken towards establishing these autonomies?
§ MR. BOURKEAt the end of June last, Sir Henry Layard made an urgent appeal to the Porte to appoint the Commissions which were necessary under the 23rd Article of the Treaty of Berlin as soon as possible. A month after that, since the new Prime Minister was appointed, Sir Henry Layard renewed that appeal, and received from Aarifi Pasha an assurance that the Commissions would shortly be appointed. I must say that it is earnestly to be hoped that the Porte will see it is to the interest of the Sultan, just as much as to the interest of the populations in the Provinces of European Turkey, that these Commissions should be appointed without any delay.