HC Deb 27 July 1896 vol 43 c703
MR. JOHN WILSON (Govan)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign A flairs, if the inquiries into the case of Pastor Khamis, now imprisoned in Dizza, included any investigation into the nature of the treasonable correspondence carried on by him, or whether the allegations were accepted as correct on the authority of Turkish officials; whether he is aware that the only apparent grounds for the said allegations were letters from the aged pastor to his two sons in this country, asking for pecuniary aid towards his own sub sistence, he being nearly 80 years of age; and, whether these letters were construed by the Turkish officials into applications for funds for the purpose of insurrection?

MR. CURZON

The inquiries into the case of Pastor Khamis were made by Her Majesty's Vice Consul at Van, who satisfied himself that there were sufficient reasons for the institution of proceedings. As stated in answer to a previous question, besides correspondence a diary containing accusations against the Turkish Government was found in possession of the Pastor.