§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)had the following Question on the Paper:—To ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he has seen the report appearing in the morning papers—
That the Archbishop of Van, who had quite recently refused to sign a declaration that the Armenians were content, and that there was no necessity for an English Consul, has been ordered to be brought to Constantinople under an escort.Whether the report is correct; and whether it is true that two Armenian 680 priests have been tortured, and that great anxiety and excitement prevails in Van and through Armenia?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.)Notice of this Question has been given more than once, and the hon. Gentleman who was to have asked it has not attended in his place. I think it is not desirable that such a Question should be kept standing on the Paper, and it is something like trifling with the House to leave it there. I shall, therefore, answer it now. The particular facts mentioned in the Question have not been reported by any British Consular officer. Arrests, in consequence, it is said, of the discovery of a conspiracy, appear to have taken place in the districts named.
§ Subsequently,
§ DR. TANNERsaid, it was a mistake to say his Question had been on the Paper for some time. He addressed a Question on the subject to the right hon. Gentleman last month; but as the statement alluded to in the Question had remained uncontradicted, he thought it his duty to bring the matter forward again.