HC Deb 09 May 1893 vol 12 cc452-3
MR. SCHWANN (Manchester, N.E.)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government is aware that the difficulties put in the way of English and other coal merchants in Constantinople are owing to applications being made to the Turkish Government by a local syndicate to obtain the monopoly of the coal business in that port, and that one of the applications bears the name of Redoan Pasha, Prefect of Constantinople, in whose hands the refusal or acceptance partly rests; and whether Her Majesty's Government will immediately use their influence to prevent this scheme, which would have an oppressive action on English coal merchants at present established at Constantinople, and raise the price of coals materially in that port?

*THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir E. GREY,) Northumberland, Berwick

We do not possess information to this effect, but the statement made by my hon. Friend shall be sent to Her Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople.