§ MR. F. S. STEVENSONI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that the Papers relating to the massacres of last Autumn will not be in the hands of Members in sufficient time to allow of their contents being mastered before the close of the Debate on the Address, the Government will be willing to set apart a day for the discussion of those and other Papers relating to the condition of affairs in Asiatic Turkey?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E.I should be sorry to make a pledge on the subject. It will depend on the feeling of the House, when they have all the papers before them, what, course the Government will take on the subject? I have some hopes that when the House sees all the documents it will feel that there is very little to be added to what has been said in regard to the policy pursued by the Government within the, last six months.
§ MR. F. S. STEVENSONI beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, with reference to the statement made by him on the 3rd February, that Russia is not willing and has not been willing to take upon herself the duty of occupying and policing those provinces of Asiatic Turkey in which outrages and massacres have chiefly occurred, will he state what definite steps have been taken for the purpose of ascertaining whether Russia is willing or unwilling?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURYThe Papers just distributed and those which will be in the hands of hon. Members on Monday show the views expressed by the Russian Government in regard to any change of administration in Asiatic Turkey. I do not think it would be desirable to pick out this or that telegram or Dispatch, but the general tenor of the whole correspondence will, I think, establish the accuracy of the statement I have made.
MR. JAMES LOWTHER (Kent, Thanet)Is it not the case that the Russian Minister distinctly stated that not only did the Russian Government view the idea of force in their own case with disfavour, but they would equally object to it in the case of others?
§ MR. STEVENSONCan the right hon. Gentleman state down to what date the Papers to be issued on Monday will go as far as diplomatic negotiations are concerned?
MR. CURZON (who was asked to answer the question)My impression is that the Blue-book to be presented on Monday will carry the events down to the very end of January.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESasked whether the Consular Reports for 1892, 1893, and 1894 would be presented; they were, he believed, in type?
MR. CURZONsaid that previous Consular Reports would be presented very soon, but whether on Monday or not he could not say.