§ MR. BRYCE (Aberdeen, S.)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Her Majesty's Government have received any information confirming the accounts which appeared in the public Press on Thursday 4th August, of a conflict between the Mussulman and the Armenian population of Amasin, arising out of the abduction of a Christian girl by Hassan Bey, the Turkish Governor, and of the danger of further attacks on the Christian population of the city; and, whether, if the facts turn out to be as stated, Her Majesty's Government will, in pursuance of the provisions of Article lxii. of the Treaty of Berlin, address representations to the Ottoman Government on the matter, with a view to the dismissal of Hassan Bey, and the prevention of outrages and conflicts, tending to imperil the peace of the East?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.)Her Majesty's Government have as yet no information in regard to the case referred to in my hon. Friend's Question.
§ SIR JAMES FERGUSSONI cannot think that it is the duty of the Government to make inquiry into a newspaper telegram from Constantinople, in which mention is made of a rumour. The circumstances described in the hon. Member's Question are stated in the paragraph in the newspapers to be according to one version of the report. I think if Her Majesty's Government, in consequence of such a paragraph in a newspaper, were to address a remonstrance to the Government of Turkey, and possibly ask the dismissal of an officer, it would be a very strong measure indeed.
§ MR. BRYCEThe right hon. Gentleman has entirely misunderstood my Question. Will he inquire into the facts from the Ambassador—whether there is any foundation for the rumour? I do not ask him to remonstrate until he has ascertained the facts.
§ SIR JAMES FERGUSSONWe had better wait at least for the course of post.