HC Deb 22 March 1895 vol 31 c1687
MR. C. E. SCHWANN (Manchester, N.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is a fact, as stated in Renter's telegram of yesterday from Constantinople, that the Sultan of Turkey has given, orders for the release of all the Armenian Ecclesiastics imprisoned in dungeons of Asiatic Turkey, and has he any further details to communicate on this subject?

SIR E. GREY

I am glad to be able to state that we have received information from Constantinople to the effect that all Armenian Ecclesiastics who are at present undergoing sentences are to be brought at once to Constantinople with the documents relating to their cases; with the exception of those who are condemned for murder or other crimes, all are to be released on taking an oath of good behaviour.

MR. F. S. STEVENSON (Suffolk, Eye)

said, that as on a previous occasion many persons who were released by order of the Sultan were re-arrested by the local authorities, care would be taken to see that that did not happen now.

SIR E. GREY

That is an entirely different question.