§ MR. KIMBER (Wandsworth)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether it is true, as reported, that the Administration of the Public Debt at Constantinople have advanced £40,000 as a loan to the Turkish Government 592 out of the moneys belonging to the foreign bondholders; whether the loan was effected about the time when a concession was being negotiated by the Porte with a German Bank for the Asia Minor Railways; whether it is true that Mr. Vincent Caillard, the Agent at Constantinople of the English bondholders, is interested in such concession; and, whether this is an infringement of a concession already granted, or agreed to be granted, to British capitalists?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.)Her Majesty's Government have no information as to the supposed advance to the Turkish Government by the Administration of the Public Debt. The terms of the concession for the Asia Minor Railways have been published in the newspapers at Constantinople. Mr. Vincent Caillard is not in the service of Her Majesty's Government, nor under their orders; and they do not know to what extent, or in what manner, he is interested in the concession, though it is understood that he has interested himself in the matter. Whether the present concession is, or is not, an infraction of a concession previously granted and still in force is a question for decision by the proper tribunals.