§ MR. JOHN ELLISI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether Lord Salisbury's attention had been called to the Report of the Commissioner of the Armenian Relief Fund, dated 27th May, respecting his visit to the province of Kharput, in which he states (inter alia) that the terrible desolation of fire and sword passes imagination; that, in spite of the fullest reports of the Consuls, the reign of terror and death goes on unchecked, splendidly organised and directed from the palace at Constantinople; and that, without security for life and property, permanent relief is impossible; and, what steps the Government are taking in respect of these matters?
*MR. CURZONAttention has been called to the letter from the Commissioner of the Armenian Relief Fund dated Kharput May 27th, and published in the newspapers of the 23rd instant. Reports have recently been received from the 69 British Vice-Consul there relative to the distress which exists in the district and the acts of oppression committed by the local authorities, and strong representations have been repeatedly made to the Turkish Government by Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Constantinople.
§ MR. JOHN ELLISasked whether the Government were doing anything more than make these strong representations.
§ MR. JOHN ELLISHave the Government not been waiting for 12 months?
§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)Will these representations affect the prestige of the Porte?
§ MR. JAMES BRYCE (Aberdeen, S.)asked whether representations had been addressed by any other Power than those which were communicated by Her Majesty's Charge d'Affaires.
*MR. CURZONThe question relates to the province of Kharput. I do not know that representations with reference to that province have been addressed, but numerous representations on the general question are continually reaching the Porte.