§ EARL DE LA WARR, in rising to call attention to the tenth Article of the 278 Treaty of Berlin, with special reference to the Rustchuk-Varna Railway Company; and to ask if Her Majesty's Government propose to take any steps to enforce the stipulations of the Treaty with regard to the obligations of' the Principality of Bulgaria, said, the House might remember that under the stipulations of the Treaty of Berlin the new Principality of Bulgaria, which was then created, became liable to a tribute to the Sultan as a compensation, though in a small degree, for the loss of one of the richest and most fertile Provinces of His Majesty's Dominions. Although five years had now elapsed since the ratification of the Treaty, it appeared that no tribute had yet been paid. While other Articles of the Treaty had been somewhat rigidly enforced, those which chiefly concerned the interest of Turkey seemed, in a great measure, to have escaped the notice of the signatory Powers. In connection with this he wished also to direct their Lordships' attention to the case of the Rustchuk-Varna Railway Company. In the 10th Article of the Treaty it was stated—
Bulgaria takes the place of the Imperial Ottoman Government in its undertaking towards the Rustchuk-Varna Railway Company, dating from the exchange of the ratifications of the present Treaty,That was in the year 1878. Under the original concession, granted about 20 years ago, an annual subsidy of £140,000 was guaranteed for a term of years by the Ottoman Government. The liability for this was transferred to Bulgaria in 1878. The sum amounted now to £700,000; but no portion of this, up to the present time, had been paid to the shareholders of the Company. he desired to know whether the Government proposed, in conjunction with the other signatory Powers, to enforce the stipulations of the Treaty in this respect?
§ EARL GRANVILLEMy Lords, I have to say, in answer to the noble Earl, that the Government of Bulgaria has consented to refer the obligations under the 10th Article of the Treaty of Berlin to arbitration. Communications are going on with regard to the terms of the Reference. There has been great delay in replying to the last communication of Her Majesty's Government on this subject, owing to the absence of the Prince of Bulgaria and the Ministers and to other reasons; but we have 279 lately received information from Mr. Lascelles that the matter will be carefully considered, and as soon as the Ministers return to Varna a communication will be made.