HC Deb 06 May 1879 vol 245 cc1816-7
MR. MONK

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the announcement of the failure of the negotiations between the Powers for a Conference of Ambassadors at Constantinople to settle the Greek Frontier Question, contained in the "Morning Post" of yesterday, is true; and that the failure is owing to the refusal of the English Government to entertain the proposal?

MR. BOURKE

Sir, since the hon. Member mentioned this subject, I have read the announcement in The Morning Post, and the announcement is to this effect—that a telegram had been received from Vienna announcing the failure of the negotiations carried on between the Powers with a view to bring about the assembling of a Conference of Ambassadors at Constantinople to settle the Greek Frontier Question. Sir, the French Government has made a proposal to the Powers, and it is not true that it has failed. The next statement in the telegram is that the cause of the alleged failure is affirmed to be the refusal of the English Government to entertain the proposal. Well, Sir, as there has been no failure, of course that also is untrue. Put there is also another inaccuracy, at any rate, in the telegram—namely, the statement that the proposal was not entertained in consequence of the English Government. Upon that I have to say that, even if the proposal had failed, which it certainly has not, it would be untrue to say that it was owing to anything that has been done by the English Government.

MR. MONK

Will the hon. Gentleman lay on the Table the proposal of M. Waddington, and any Correspondence that has taken place -which is not of a confidential nature?

MR. BOURKE

The negotiations are still going on, and the details are not settled. I have no doubt that eventually all the Papers will be laid on the Table of the House; but, of course, hon. Gentlemen will see that it would be impossible to produce them at present.

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

Will the Under Secretary kindly state whether it would be correct to say that the principle of mediation has been accepted by all the Powers, and that the Conference is in a fair way of being held?

MR. BOURKE

Yes; I think I may answer that Question in the affirmative. The principle of mediation has been affirmed by all the Powers. Of course, the details of the mode in which that mediation should be carried out are now under discussion.