§ MR. BRYCEI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreig'n Affairs whether he has now at length received aay information regarding the massacre of a large number (in some accounts estimated at 80) of Christian refugees by Mohammedan Arnauts, which was stated a fortnight ago in many Continental and English newspapers to have taken place in the district of Kossovo, in North West Macedonia, and also regarding the conduct of the Turkish Local Authorities, who are reported in some of these accounts to have connived at the slaughter of the refugees.
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOK FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir J. FERGUSSON,) Manchester, N.E.No confirmation has yet been received of the report, which appears to have originated at 1326 Munich, but inquiry will be made as to whether there is any foundation for it. I may be permitted to take this opportunity of stating, with reference to a question of the hon. Member, in regard to certain
Accounts which had appeared in the newspapers of horrible cruelties stated to have been perpetrated upon Armenian Christians in the district of Khanos, between Bitlis and Eizeroum,that Her Majesty's Consul has reported that the inquiries which he has made lead him to believe that there was no loss of life during the attack which was made in the valley of Alashgerd upon certain labourers on their return from Russian territory, and that over £100 of the money carried away by the Kurds has been recovered, and four of the offenders are in custody. The persons attacked appear to have been Nestorians, and the attack to have taken place between Bayazaid and the Russian frontier.
§ MR. BRYCEHas the right hon. Gentleman obtained the information which was promised 10 days ago with reference to a reported massacre in Macedonia? It is alleged that this outrage was perpetrated with a view of exacting money.
§ SIR J. FERGUSSONI am sorry that the hon. Gentleman did not make it plain what his purpose was. I will make further inquiry.