§ MR. REES (Montgomery Boroughs)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will endeavour to obtain from the British financial adviser on the Reform Commission in Macedonia, before the next Session of Parliament, the information promised by him; and whether he will also request 1861 the British adviser to endeavour to furnish an estimate of any additional cost to which the Turkish Government may have been put by the reform scheme of the Powers in Macedonia.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Runciman, Dewsbury; for Sir Edward Grey)As regards the first part of this Question, in which I presume the hon. Member refers to the information asked for in his Question of the 29th ult., the amount due by the Turkish Government in March last was £T94,000. The monthly subventions due from the Turkish Government on account of the deficit amount to £T68,546. Therefore the total amount due up to the middle of November last was £T616,914. The subventions actually paid by the Turkish Government up to that time were as follows:—In March, £T160,000; July, £T60,394; August, £T80,000; September, £T50,000; October, £T25,000; November, £T40,000—making a total of £T415,394. These sums were derived from the proceeds of loans. As regards the second part of the Question, it is not possible to furnish a comparative statement, as no trustworthy details in regard to the civil expenditure of the three vilayets are available prior to the establishment of the Financial Commission.
§ MR. REESasked if, in view of the very strong feelings entertained by certain hon. Members on this subject, the Secretary of State would be willing to receive them during the Recess and to listen to any representations they might have to make.
§ MR. RUNCIMANreplied that, of course, he could not pledge his right hon. friend, but he was sure he would consider any communication sent to him.