HC Deb 19 November 1906 vol 165 cc396-7
MR. LYNCH (Yorkshire, W.R., Ripon)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government have stipulated that further reforms in Macedonia shall be satisfactorily begun before their consent shall be given to an increase of the Custom duties in Turkey.

The SECRETARY TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. RUNCIMAN, Dewsbury, for Sir Edward Grey)

My right hon. friend cannot add to the statements which have already been made. As soon as the negotiations are finished complete Papers will be laid.

MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)

Is not Macedonia in a worse condition than it was four years ago?

MR. RUNCIMAN

asked for notice.

MR. BOWLES (Lambeth, Norwood)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in the event of increased duties being levied on British goods imported into Turkey, and their proceeds being devoted to the Macedonian Budget, the European Financial Commission in Macedonia would have any power to control the proportions to be borne on that Budget by the civil and military respectively, or to determine what sums should be allocated in any year to the civil administration.

MR. RUNCIMAN

The point to which the hon. Member refers is one of importance, and has not been overlooked; but it would not be desirable to make any definite statement while negotiations are still in progress.