MR. GIBSON BOWLES () Lynn RegisI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether Her Majesty's Government have given attention to the repeated allegations in the Constantinople newspapers (and especially to the allegations in the Oriental Advertiser of 4th June 1896) as to the asserted existence of grave scandals in Her Britannic Majesty's Supreme Consular Court at Constantinople; whether he has made any inquiry of and received any information from Her Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople since his attention was called to this subject by a Question in this House; and, whether he can state if it is intended to hold any and, if so, what kind of Inquiry into this matter?
MR. CURZONOur attention having been called by the Question of the hon. Member on March 26th, to the alleged existence of gravescandals in the Supreme Consular Court at Constantinople, Her Majesty's Ambassador in that capital was communicated with. It appears that certain law suits arising out of the matters in question are still pending before the Court, and it must depend upon their result what action, if any, will require to be taken.