§ *SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople has informed Her Majesty's Government of the existence of an Imperial Irade by the Sultan giving to Russian subjects the monopoly of making railways in an area of Asia Minor fronting the Black Sea.
§ *MR. BRODRICKThe information given in my answer of the 21st instant as to the existence and nature of an Imperial Irade on this subject was received from Her Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople. The text of the Irade has not been communicated to the Ambassador nor has any official communication been made to Her Majesty's Government on the subject.
§ *SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in order to force this concession the Russian Government mobilised over 100,000 men on the Turkish frontier?
§ *MR. BRODRICKThe hon. Member had better give notice of such an important question.