HC Deb 30 June 1913 vol 54 cc1457-8
4. Mr.AUBREY HERBERT

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information that there is again an active propaganda of religious persecution of the Moslems of Macedonia?

Mr.ACLAND

I have received no official information in the sense suggested by the hon. Member, but I have received complaints on this subject which I have transmitted to His Majesty's Minister at Sofia, with instructions to bring them to the notice of the Bulgarian Government.

5. Mr.AUBREY HERBERT

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the many allegations of persecution by Christian bands of Moslems in Macedonia he will consider the advisability of instructing the Consuls in the districts in question to travel in the neighbourhood of their Consulates for the purpose of investigating the extent of these alleged crimes, and to acquaint themselves with the general situation?

Mr. ACLAND

I have been kept fully informed by His Majesty's Consular representatives of events in the districts where they reside. At present I consider their presence necessary at their posts. As the hon. Member is aware, I have brought to the notice of the Governments concerned, through His Majesty's diplomatic representatives, any allegations of the nature described which I considered to be sufficiently well founded.

Mr.JAMES HOPE

May I ask the hon. Gentleman if he is sure that His Majesty's Government has a sufficient number of Consular representatives both in Macedonia and Albania?

Mr.ACLAND

I have said already that the question of Consular representatives in those districts will have to be reconsidered in view of the new situation.

Mr.JAMES HOPE

May I ask whether the reconsideration will take place soon?

Mr.ACLAND

We do not know yet what the new situation is going to be.