HC Deb 11 June 1883 vol 280 cc207-8
MR. DIXON-HARTLAND

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Her Majesty's Government can now see their way to insist upon the strict fulfilment of Article X. of the Treaty of Berlin, so as to avoid such terms being forced by Bulgaria on the Varna Railway bondholders as practically confiscates their property; whether, the bondholders having been obliged to take the guarantee of Bulgaria for the £140,000 a-year, Her Majesty's Government will take such steps as are necessary to preserve their rights; and, whether, before any final arrangement is agreed to by the agent of Her Majesty's Government at Sofia, he will be directed to secure the payment of all arrears of interest to the bondholders as a precedent condition?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

Sir, the Bulgarian Government, after long negotiations with the Varna Railway Company, have, at the instance of Her Majesty's Government, agreed in principle to refer the amount of their liability to the arbitration of the Ambassadors of the Great Powers at Constantinople. The precise terms of the agreement of arbitration are still under discussion; and Her Majesty's Government regret that the Bulgarian Government have neglected to answer the last two Notes on the subject addressed to them on the 3rd of April and the 4th of May last. The reason given for the delay being the recent change of Ministry and the absence of the Prince of Bulgaria at Moscow. Her Majesty's Agent at Sofia has been instructed to press urgently for a reply to the above-mentioned communication.

MR. DIXON - HARTLAND

The noble Lord has not in the least answered my first Question. I would ask him, whether the Bulgarian Government only agreed to remit the matter to arbitration on the absurd condition that the decision should be unanimous; next, whether there has been any alteration of the Ministry at Sofia since March last?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

The question of unanimity has been one of the points under discussion between Her Majesty's Government and the Bulgarian Government; and it is on this and on other points that, as I stated the other day, Her Majesty's Government regret that they have been unable to obtain any understanding.

MR. DIXON - HARTLAND

What change has there been in the Ministry at Sofia since the 11th of March?

LORD EDMOND FIZMAURICE

I am not aware that there has been any change of Ministry, but there have been changes of individual Ministers.

MR. DIXON-HARTLAND

said, he would repeat his Question that day week.