§ MR. SUMMERS (Huddersfield)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is a fact that a number of the Armenian deputation, who recently waited upon the Grand Vizier at Constantinople, to present a petition on behalf of 500 natives of Mouche, temporarily residing in the Turkish capital, praying for the punishment of the notorious Kurdish chief Moussa Bey, have been arrested by his orders, and will be shortly exiled to Tripoli?
§ * SIR J. FERGUSSONHer Majesty's Government are not aware whether the report referred to is correct. It has already been mentioned to the Secretary of State, and an inquiry as to its truth has been addressed to Her Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople.
§ MR. MORE (Shropshire, Ludlow)Can the right hon. Gentleman give any information as to whether any inquiry into the charges against Moussa Bey has commenced at Constantinople; and, if so, what is the nature of the inquiry, by whom is it conducted, and is it public or private?
§ * SIR J. FERGUSSONMoussa Bey has, I believe, been summoned to Constantinople to answer the charges which are made against him. We have not heard that the inquiry has commenced, nor do we know who is conducting it; but, of course, it will be conducted 1582 under the immediate orders of the Imperial Ottoman Government. I am unable to say whether it is to be an inquiry open to the public.