MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, do the treaties still exist of 13th March, 1871, and of 30th March, 1856, whereby the Great Powers of Europe affirmed and engaged to respect the principle invariably established as the ancient rule of the Turkish Empire, in virtue of which it has at all times been prohibited for the ships of war of Foreign Powers to enter the Straits of the Dardanelles or the Bosphorus: have any, and, if so, how many, Russian torpedo destroyers or other ships of war recently entered and passed both those Straits, and when; were any, and, if so, what communications on the subject received by His Majesty's Government either from Russia or from Turkey before the passage of those ships; were any representations, verbal or written, made by His Majesty's Government; has any correspondence passed on the subject either before or after such passage; and, if so, when will he lay it upon the Table of the House.
§ *LORD CRANBORNEThe provisions of the Treaties of 1856 and 1871 relating to the Straits are still in force. His Majesty's Government have been informed that four Russian torpedoboats passed through the Straits on various dates between December 31st and January 30th last; they were to fly the commercial flag and they were not to carry cannon or war material. No communications on the subject were received by His Majesty's Govern- 496 ment from the Governments of Russia or Turkey before the passage of the vessels. In accordance with the course pursued on previous occasions His Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople on January 1st addressed a Note to the Porte in which he stated that the permission granted was in contravention of existing Treaty stipulations, and pointed out that, as these stipulations were applicable to all Powers alike, His Majesty's Government must reserve to themselves the right to claim similar privileges in the future. No reply has been returned to this Note by the Turkish Government. It is not considered desirable to present Papers on the subject.