§ MR. SLAGGasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he is now able to make a statement with regard to the right to protection of Mr. A. O. Arsenian, a naturalised British subject of Persian origin, whose property is said to have been arbitrarily confiscated by the Persian Ambassador at Constantinople, the said Ambassador defying the power of the British authorities there to interfere in the matter?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEThe property claimed by Mr. A. O. Arsenian has been seized by order of the Persian Consul General at Constantinople in the course of civil proceedings instituted against Mr. A. O. Arsenian by certain members of his family before the Persian Consular Court. By a Treaty, dated 1875, between Persia and the Porte, all suits or proceedings, civil or criminal, between Persian subjects are to be heard and determined by the Consuls and Vice Consuls of Persia. By the law of Persia a Persian subject cannot change his nationality without the sanction of his Government, and such sanction has not been obtained by Mr. A. O. Arsenian to his British naturalization. In these circumstances, Her Majesty's Government are advised that Mr. A. O. Arsenian is amenable to the jurisdiction of the Persian Consul 1896 General, and is not entitled to protection as a British subject against the exercise of such jurisdiction, notwithstanding his British naturalization. At the same time, Her Majesty's Ambassador has been instructed to employ officially the best means in his power to assist Mr. A. 0. Arsenian.