MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury has the Russian Government approached His Majesty's Government with a request or suggestion that they should consent to Russian men-of-war passing from the Black Sea through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles; in view of the fact that such a passage would be a violation of European treaties, what attitude will His Majesty's Government take on this point; and can any Papers be laid.
§ * MR. AKERS-DOUGLAS (for Mr. A.J. BALFOUR)His Majesty's Government have not been approached with any such request or suggestion. There is no reason whatever for supposing that the Russian Government contemplate a step which would involve a distinct violation of their treaty obligations to the European Powers.