§ MR. BRYCEasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether it is true, as reported from Macedonia to The Manchester Guardian, that the Turkish authorities in Macedonia are again resorting to wholesale arrest and transportation of the more wealthy and respectable members of the Christian community; whether it is the fact that, during the last twelve months, a considerable number of innocent persons have been arrested in Macedonia by the Turks, and sent to prisons in Asia Minor; and, whether Her Majesty's Government have remonstrated, or will remonstrate, with the Porte 1318 against such proceedings, and again press upon its attention the 23rd Article of the Treaty of Berlin?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEInformation from a private source to the above effect has been received, and was forwarded to Lord Dufferin in the ordinary course. The internal condition of the Ottoman Empire in Europe has not been the subject of any very recent communications.
§ MR. BRYCEIs there any objection on the part of the Foreign Office to address an inquiry to Mr. Blunt, Her Majesty's Consul at Salonica?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICELord Dufferin will, no doubt, make the necessary inquiries.
§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNORMay I ask if similar inquiries have been made by other Governments as to whether similar proceedings were not perpetrated by Her Majesty's Government in Ireland?
§ [No reply.]