§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If he will state what was the position of affairs as regards the execution of the Twenty-third Article of the Treaty of Berlin when a new British Commissioner was sent out; whether the constitution of the province of Adrianople, a translation of which was promised some months ago, has yet been translated; whether constitutions for any other and what provinces have yet been drafted; and, whether in this or any other way any bona fide and effectual step has been taken towards the execution of the Article in question?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKESir, the Treaty of Berlin laid down that the Porte should depute special commissions, in which the native element should be largely represented, to settle the details of the new laws in each Province. Instead of doing this, the Porte drew up a single draft of an Organic Law for the Provinces, and sent it to be examined by local Commissions at Adrianople, Salonica, Janina, and Kossova. On receiving the Reportsfrom these local Commissions, the Porte issued a Circular to the Powers stating that the Reports were ready for examination by the Eastern Roumelian Commission, and requesting that Commissioners might be appointed without delay. This has been done; and Lord Edmond Fitzmaurice, who was selected by the Government as the Commissioner for this country, is now at Constantinople. We have heard to-day that the Porte, after making some delay, has reappointed its former Commissioners, and it may be hoped that the Commission will be formally constituted in a few days. We have heard that the Adrianople Constitution is being translated; but we have not yet received a copy of the translation.