On Monday in the House of Lords Lord Newton did
valuable service in calling attention to the proposed increase in the Turkish Custom-duties, which • would involve a burden upon British trade of several hundreds of thousands of pounds, and would be used in all likelihood either to further the Baghdad Railway scheme, to promote the new strategic railway to Mecca,—or, we may add, to assist such action as Turkey's recent attempt to take possession of portions of Egyptian territory. Lord Fitzmaurice in reply said that the Turkish Government would not be allowed to use any of its newly acquirea funds for any purpose until the Macedonian Budget had been balanced, and that it was this end which the Government had in mind in consenting to the Customs increase. Lord Lansdowne agreed that some sacrifice was desirable if a more orderly government could be established in Macedonia, since that country was a standing menace to the peace of Europe. But this increase in duties should only be allowed upon terms, and should not come into operation until we had satisfied ourselves by experience that these terms were being fulfilled. We are in full agreement with Lord Lansdowne's suggestion. It is idle to pay money out of our pocket when that money may be used to the disadvan- tage of those who pay it. We must remember also that even if the increase in Customs is earmarked to be spent in Macedonia, the result will be to set free money in the Turkish Treasury for other purposes.
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