§ THE EARL OF ELLENBOROUGHsaid, he might take that opportunity of asking the noble Earl the Secretary for Foreign Affairs when it would be in his power to lay on the table of the House the convention recently concluded with the Government of the Sultan for the employment of a Turkish force under British officers? He was extremely desirous of making some general observations upon that subject, and would probably take occasion to do so either to-morrow or Thursday, upon the second reading of the Army Service Act Amendment Bill.
§ THE EARL OF CLARENDONcould not exactly say when he would be able to produce the convention referred to by the noble Earl. It would have to be ratified after being signed, and he was afraid that could not be done under six weeks from the present time.
§ THE EARL OF ELLENBOROUGHwas extremely sorry to hear it. Six weeks was a campaign; and if the Turkish force could not be raised within that time, it would be of little service during the present year.
§ THE EARL OF CLARENDONwas understood to say that, according to the usual form in such cases, six weeks must elapse before the convention could be ratified, but no corresponding delay would occur in the raising of the force.