MR. F. A. CHANGING (Northampton, E.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that many Armenians are being removed by the Turkish Authorities from the Sassoun district southward, and out of reach of the Commission of Inquiry; and whether representations will be made to the Porte against this deportation of possible witnesses on the matters to be brought before the Commission?
§ *SIR E. GREYIf any facts of this nature come to the knowledge of Her Majestys Consular Officers, or of the Delegates who accompany the Commission, they will of course form the subject of a remonstrance.
§ MR. C. E. SCHWANN (Manchester, N.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether the Armenian witnesses being about to appear before the Turkish Commission of Inquiry sitting at Moush, in Armenia, Omer Bey, a Member of that Commission, has been appointed to the Governorship; and (2) whether, should this be the case, he will use the influence of Her Majestys Government to oppose a step calculated to intimidate the Armenian witnesses?
§ *SIR E. GREYThe answer to the first paragraph is in the affirmative. The Governor who held this post, before the appointment of the Commission, at the time of the alleged occurrences which are being investigated, has been removed. Omer Bey is an official of high reputation, and Her Majesty's Government do not consider that his provisional appointment seems likely to have the effect suggested in my lion. Friends question.