TURKEY—PROVINCIAL CONSTITUTIONS OF EUROPEAN TURKEY. (Hansard, 20 February 1880)

§ MR. BOURKE

Sir, in reply to the first part of the Question, we should have no objection whatever to lay the Organic Statute before Parliament when we receive it; but we think, at the same time, it would convey very insufficient information to the House, as it is in an incomplete form. At present, it is being translated at Constantinople, and as it of great length it is not likely to reach this country for some time. If my hon. Friend will communicate with me some little time hence, I shall be glad to tell him then whether we shall be able to communicate it to the House. Of course, Her Majesty's Government will have no objection to communicate it as soon as possible. With regard to the second part of the Question— Whether Her Majesty's Government are satisfied that the Local Commissions appointed are constituted in a manner according with the spirit and intentions of the Treaty of Berlin, I think I informed the House the other day that complaints had been made, both by Sir Henry Layard and by our Commissioners on the spot, with respect to the constitution of the Commissions at Adrianople and Salonica. In consequence of those complaints, made by the Commissioners themselves, a greater representation of the Christian element was placed on the Commission. We have no reason to think that the Com- 1101 missions have been organized and formed in any way contrary to the spirit of the Treaty of Berlin. With reference to the last part of the Question— Whether the Constitution framed by the Adrianople Commission will now he submitted to the European Commission in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty, I am not in a position to answer that at present, because, the question as to these constitutions being referred to a European Commission, it is not yet ripe for decision, for the Local Commissioners have not yet completed their labours.