§ MR. BRYCEasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he can give the House any further information regarding the condition of Macedonia, and the anarchy reputed to exist there; and when the Report of Major Trotter upon the state of that country is expected to be received and presented to the House?
§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLasked, Whether Her Majesty's Government will take advantage of the presence of a Special Envoy from the Sultan, and the approaches for friendly relations made by that Potentate, to obtain the fulfilment of the Twenty-third Article of the Treaty of Berlin, by which the Sultan is bound to establish autonomous institutions in the Provinces of his Empire, and to impress on him that he can expect nothing from England till he fulfils his Treaty obligations?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEI will answer both Questions. Her Majesty's Government think it advisable to defer making any statement until the receipt of Major Trotter's Report, which is on its way home. Any representations which it may be considered advisable to make to the Porte in regard to the condition of the European Provinces of Turkey will be made in the manner most likely to be effectual; but no pledge can be given as to the mode of communication.
§ MR. BRYCEWhen does the noble Lord think it is likely that the Report of Major Trotter will be presented to the House?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEVery soon, indeed. It has been telegraphed for, and is now on its way home.
§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLMay I ask for an answer to my Question? The answer of the noble Lord has no connection whatever with it.
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEWhatever steps Her Majesty's Government may take must depend to a considerable extent on the Report of Major Trotter. I do not anticipate that the Special Ambassador from the Sultan will be in England very much longer; and probably he will not be here when action is taken respecting one of the most important of the remaining Provinces of European Turkey.
§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFCannot the Government, in concert with the other Powers of Europe, with which the Government seems to be on such good terms, make representations with a view of pressing on Turkey the obligations of the Treaty of Berlin?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEThat Question is a very fair one to ask, and really raises one of the principal points. The obligation is one which is incumbent not merely upon this country, but upon all the other Powers of Europe.