HC Deb 31 July 1890 vol 347 c1367
MR. SUMMERS

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that Article VIII. of the Treaty of Paris stipulates that If there should arise between the Sublime Porte and one or more of the other Signing Powers any misunderstanding which might endanger the maintenance of their relations, the Sublime Porte, and each of such Powers, before having recourse to the use of force, shall afford the other contracting parties the opportunity of preventing such an extremity by means of their mediation; and whether Her Majesty's Ministers will consider the advisability of acting in conformity with this precedent, and of inserting arbitration clauses in agreements which they may hereafter make with Foreign Powers?

* SIR J. FERGUSSON

As the House has been already informed, Her Majesty's Government are favourable to arbitration where the circumstances render that course expedient; but they cannot enter into any such general engagement as is indicated.