HC Deb 27 June 1889 vol 337 cc889-90
MR. CHANNING (Northamptonshire, E.)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have received any information as to the memorial alleged to have been sent by the Armenians of Van to the Turkish Government, denying the recent Kurdish outrages; whether it is the fact that the memorial was drafted in Constantinople, and sent to the Governor of Van with instructions to use pressure to obtain signatures; whether the signatories include several political criminals who have been released from prison since the sending in of the memorial; whether it is true that Moussa Bey is to be brought for trial to Constantinople, and that the present head of the police at Constantinople is Bahri Pasha, an uncle of Moussa Bey; and, whether Her Majesty's Government have any information as to the alleged murders of three Armenians at Tchermong, in the province of Diarbekir, by Mahometans?

* SIR FERGUSSON

Her Majesty's Government have no information in regard to the memorial alluded to in paragraphs 1, 2, 3 of the hon. Member's question. Moussa Bey has reached Erzeroum, and was to leave that place for Constantinople on the 10th instant. Bahri Pasha, the Mutessarif of Pera, is connected by marriage with Moussa Bey, as Bahri Pasha's sister was one of the wives of Moussa Bey's father. No information respecting the alleged murder of three Armenians at Tchermong has reached Her Majesty's Government.

MR. CHANNING

Will the Foreign Office make an inquiry into the matter?

* SIR J. FERGUSSON

Her Majesty's Ambassador, in pursuance of his instructions, will naturally watch these cases.

Forward to