HC Deb 23 July 1877 vol 235 c1664
MR. H. B. SAMUELSON

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Reports have been received from any British Consul in Asia Minor of outrages alleged to have been committed by regular or irregular troops in the Turkish service upon Christian villagers in Armenia; and, if so, whether he will lay those Reports upon the Table of the House before the Recess?

MR. BOURKE

Sir, in answer to the Question of the hon. Member, I have to state that our Consul at Erzeroum has reported many cases of disorderly conduct on the part of the Turkish irregular cavalry; also we have heard that a band of Kurdish cavalry, who, it is believed, came from Persia, have committed ravages in the Pashalic of Van. Her Majesty's Representatives both at Constantinople and Teheran have been requested to inform the Governments to which they are accredited, that Her Majesty's Government hope they will take measures to prevent those outrages recurring. The Papers on the subject are being prepared, and will be presented to the House with the others.