§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether Her Majesty's Government is prepared to take measures to compel the Governments of Bulgaria and of Eastern Rou-melia to secure for that portion of the Mussulman population of those provinces that has escaped extermination equal rights with their Christian neighbours; whether he will take steps to relieve those unfortunate Mahometans from the state of abject slavery to which they have been reduced since the Russian crusade of 1877, by securing protection for their lives, their property, and the honour of their families; whether his attention has been called to the recent outrages perpetrated by Bulgarian troops and brigands led by Russian officers upon the peaceful Mahometan peasantry in the districts of Kidgali and Aidos; and, whether he will insist upon the prompt punishment of the offenders and compensation for the sufferers?
MR. GLADSTONESir, in answering this rather peculiarly constructed Question, I must guard myself against ad- 315 mitting the remarkably broad assertion which it contains or suggests, as, for example, that the bulk of the Mussulman population of Eastern Roumelia or Bulgaria has been exterminated, and that those who have been saved from extermination have been reduced to abject slavery. It may be that, owing to the superior information of the hon. Member, he may be aware of these facts; but Her Majesty's Government do not possess any information which would give them reason to believe that the relations between the Mahometan and Christian populations in these Provinces are, generally speaking, exasperated. When I come to the third portion of the Question I get upon ground comparatively solid. There is no doubt, even without professing to know as much as the Question of the hon. Member would imply that he knows that we believe, that very painful events, attended with much crime, and probably much cruelty, have occurred at the two points named by the hon. Gentleman. We are not by any means in full possession of the facts, and the origin of these unhappy occurrences is not yet clearly made out. But what is clearly made out is that much evil has been done; and special instructions have been given to my right hon. Friend the Member for Ripon (Mr. Goschen) to confer with the Representatives of the other Powers and consider the best means—first, of exactly ascertaining the facts and measuring the information; and, second, to act upon the Government of Eastern Roumelia for the purpose of securing the punishment of the offenders, and taking adequate measures for the protection of the people. I need not assure the House we draw no distinction between Mahometan and Christian. For protection from outrage, and in every case of this kind, the first duty is to come clearly at the facts, and the next duty is to apply the most effective means for the establishment of justice and the reparation of wrong.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTgave Notice that, in consequence of the answer of the right hon. Gentleman, he should take the earliest opportunity, on Supply, to call attention to the subject.