THE EARL OF LYTTONMy Lords, I beg to ask the noble Marquess the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Questions of which I have given him private notice—namely, whether under the scheme drawn up by the Powers for the control of the Macedonian finances the delegates will be empowered to dismiss incompetent officials; whether the scheme has yet been accepted by the Turkish Government, and, if not, whether any steps will be taken by the Powers to enforce their demands.
*THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (The Marquess of LANSDOWNE)My Lords, according to the terms of the Note addressed to the Porte by the Foreign Ambassadors on the 8th of May last, the international delegates are to be entrusted with the duty of superintending the execution of the financial reforms in accordance with the scheme accepted by the Powers, and the Commission, which is composed of the international delegates, is to have all the powers necessary for the accomplishment of its task. It is, in our opinion, obvious that those powers will include the right of requiring the dismissal of corrupt or incompetent officials; it is, indeed, laid down in the scheme itself that any official who fails to act in accordance with its provisions will be held responsible. In reply to my noble friend's second Question, I have to say that the scheme has not yet been accepted by the Porte, but that the Powers fully intend to take steps for the purpose of ensuring compliance with their demands.