BULGARIA.

HC Deb 06 March 1922 vol 151 cc886-7W

Mr. A. HERBERT

asked the Prime Minister if, in the coming conference on the Near East, the case of Bulgaria will be considered?

Mr. HARMSWORTH

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on the 22nd February to the hon. and gallant Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Lieut.-Colonel Guinness).

Mr. HERBERT

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware that, by the Treaty of Sèvres, Bulgaria is cut off from the Ægean Sea, and that her commerce is compelled to follow the long and costly route of the Black Sea, entailing additional expense to the British taxpayer; and will he see what can be done to remove these hindrances to trade?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

No, Sir; the Treaty of Sèvres deals with Turkish and not with Bulgarian territory. It was by Article 48 of the Treaty of Neuilly, which has been ratified after discussion in this House, that Western Thrace was taken from Bulgaria. Full provision for the economic access of Bulgaria to the Ægean was made in the subsequent Treaty between Greece and the principal allied Powers signed on 10th August, 1920. I hope that so soon as this latter Treaty has been ratified the economic outlets of Bulgaria will be fully secured.