§ MR. SCHWANN) (Manchester, N.I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to further information about Armenia in the Daily News 678 of 1st July, namely, that Hussein Bey, of Hosh, in the neighbourhood of Kharpout, who is said to have slaughtered 15 Armenians during his career, has been released from Erzeroum Gaol and appointed to a high public office in Kharpout, and that the Armenian inhabitants are panic-striken in consequence; whether there are still political prisoners from Armenia in the gaols of Erzeroum and Erzingan, who have been lying for two years and a half in gaol without trial; and whether he will inquire into these allegations, and, if he finds them correct, take means to remedy the evils? I wish further to ask whether it is true, as stated in a daily paper, that Russian troops are moving towards the Armenian frontier to compel payment of the indemnity, and to protect the Armenians from further outrage on the part of the Khurds?
*THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir J. FER-GUSSON,) Manchester, N.E.No information in corroboration of these statements has been received by Her Majesty's Government; but the attention of Her Majesty's Consular Representatives on the spot will be called to them.
§ MR. BRYCE) (Aberdeen, S.What is the date of the last Report from Constantinople or Erzeroum? The statements referred to in the question appeared some time ago.
§ *SIR J. FERGUSSONThe question put to me referred to a telegram in the Daily News of the 1st of July, and it is obvious that no Despatches could possibly have reached this country from Erzeroum at the present date. It is no part of the duty of our Representatives to give currency to every rumour that may reach them until it is confirmed.