§ 5. Mr. CHARLES BUXTONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a petition addressed to the League of Nations on behalf of the Bulgarian population resident in Macedonia has been forwarded to His Majesty's Government by the Secretary-General; whether he is aware that this petition was presented by two prominent citizens of Macedonia itself, and demands that the clauses for the protection of minorities included in the treaty of St. Germain-enLaye of 10th September, 1919, shall be applied within the framework of the Yugoslav State as at present constituted; and whether he will take steps to secure that consideration is given by the Council of the League thereto?
Mr. A. HENDERSONThe Secretary-General has not as yet forwarded a copy of the petition in question to His Majesty's Government. Copies have, however, been received both from its 384 authors and from His Majesty's Minister at Sofia. The petition will be dealt with in accordance with the ordinary procedure of the League, and I can express no opinion thereon unless and until it comes before me in my capacity as a member of the Council.
§ Mr. BUXTONWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that previous petitions dealing with this matter have emanated from exiles outside the country itself, but that what gives this petition its special significance is that it is directly representative of the minority in the country?