THE MARQUESS OF BATHwished to ask the noble Lord, the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs, a Question, respecting a matter in which nobody who had availed himself of the usual sources of information could have failed to take a deep interest. It was natural great uneasiness should be felt at the growing understanding between Russia and France with respect to Turkish affairs. The prolongation of the occupation of Syria by France would probably be made use of by the Government of Russia as a reason for interfering with the affairs of Bosnia and Bulgaria. This was a matter which affected the interests of the Ottoman Empire, for the maintenance of which in her integrity this country had expended so much 1526 blood and treasure. The French Government naturally was anxious to continue its occupation of Syria, and would find the presence of a large body of Christians resident there, who were anxious for the protection of the French Empire, powerful auxiliaries in making permanent their retention of that country. He understood the French Government had been pressed by the noble Lord the Foreign Secretary to declare that the occupation should be put an end to as speedily as possible; and he was sure it was unnecessary to show that a long occupation would be prejudicial to English interests. He begged to ask his noble Friend, Whether the attention of the Government had been called to a despatch written by Prince Gortschakoff to Count Kisseleff, at Paris, instructing him not only to support the French occupation, but also to support a proposition for an increase of troops to the number of 6,000 mentioned in the Convention of last autumn? He wished to know whether any such proposition had been made in the Conference at Paris, and in such case what course Her Majesty's Government would pursue with regard to it?
LORD WODEHOUSEsaid, that the despatch referred to by the noble Marquess was perfectly authentic; and, as a copy of it had been received by Her Majesty's Government, he need hardly say that their attention had been called to it. As to the course which they might take in the negotiations which were now pending, the noble Marquess must excuse him for saying that it was obviously impossible for him to give any information as to the course which would he pursued in negotiations which were actually going on.