§ MR. BRYCE (Aberdeen, S.)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Austrian and German Governments have increased the number of their officers appointed to supervise the gendarmerie in Macedonia, and whether His Majesty's Government propose to take any similar measures.
§ EARL PERCYYes, Sir. An intimation has just reached us that the Austro- 978 Hungarian and Russian Ambassadors have asked for an increase in the number of their officers employed in reorganising the Macedonian gendarmerie. His Majesty's Government consider that they have a right to demand equality with the other Powers in regard to any such increase, but the number of officers required for each district must, of course, be governed by the circumstances and extent of its area. His Majesty's Government are anxious that no unnecessary burdens should be imposed upon Turkey; and if an all-round increase of the European staff be decided upon it may possibly be found more economical and useful to employ any surplus officers who are not required in the districts already comprised in the gendarmerie scheme either in supervising a gradual extension of the scheme to other areas not yet included, or in affording assistance to the Turkish authorities in other departments of the administration.
§ EARL PERCYI have no doubt that fact will be taken into consideration.
MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)Can the Under-Secretary give the House any information as to the arrival by Russia and Austria at a perfect agreement with reference to all the territories south of the Balkans.
§ EARL PERCYI should like to have notice of that Question.