MR. PIEKPOINT (Warrington)To ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement regarding the Convention between England and the Porte concerning the conversion of the 4 per cent. Turkish (Guaranteed) Loan of 1855, which was signed in London on or about 3rd August, 1898, by the Marquess of Salisbury and Costaki Pasha; whether the Sultan has refused to ratify the Convention; and whether he will lay Papers upon the Table.
(Answered by Lord Cranborne). As my hon. friend is aware, the negotiations on this subject were suspended in 1898 and have not been resumed. I am afraid I am unable to make any further statement.