HC Deb 28 May 1883 vol 279 cc938-9
MR. DIXON-HARTLAND

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If he will state if any, and, if so, what steps are being taken by Her Majesty's Government with the view of carrying out Article X. of the Treaty of Berlin, by which the Bulgarian Government was substituted for the Ottoman Government in the liability to pay to the Varna Railway Company the annual subsidy of three and a-half millions of francs (£140,000), and which sum, guaranteed by Turkey in the original concession, is now nearly five years in arrear, and amounts to about £670,000; and, if he will state why the only Article of the Treaty of Berlin directly affecting British subjects is so long allowed to remain in abeyance?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

Sir, Her Majesty's Government have repeatedly urged on the Bulgarian Government the necessity of coming to some definite arrangement with a view to a settlement of these outstanding claims. They are at present awaiting the reply of that Government to a proposal which Her Majesty's Agent at Sofia was instructed to make on the 14th of March last, that the whole question involving the interpretation of Article X. of the Treaty of Berlin should be referred to the signatory Powers of that Treaty, and settled in conference by their Representatives at Constantinople. Mr. Lascelles has also been instructed to press that some payment on account should be made at once to the Varna Railway Company. Some delay has been caused by recent Ministerial changes at Sofia.

MR. DIXON - HARTLAND

asked whether the noble Lord was aware that a similar answer had been given nearly six months ago; and whether the Government would press the payment of the money to the suffering bondholders, who were nearly starved out, owing to the way in which they had been treated?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

said, that he was fully aware of that; but there were great difficulties in the way of the Foreign Office. Would the hon. Gentleman put the Question again?

MR. DIXON - HARTLAND

asked, how soon should he repeat the Question?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

said, he would communicate with the hon. Gentleman.