HC Deb 15 July 1897 vol 51 cc153-4
MR. F. S. STEVENSON (Suffolk, Eye)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Porte has refunded the sum of £500 robbed from the late Yussuf Yunan, the local agent of the Armenian Relief Committee at Sert; whether the Governor or Public Prosecutor of that district have yet been removed from office; and what steps have been taken by Her 'Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople, either alone or in conjunction with the representatives of the Powers, to secure the punishment of the murderers of Yussuf Yunan and an adequate pension or compassionate allowance for the relatives of the deceased who were dependent upon him for their support?

*THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. G. CURZON, Lancashire, Southport)

On the 11th of March, immediately on the receipt of the news of the murder of Yussuf Yunan, Her Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople urged the Porte to take stringent measures in the matter, and instructed Her Majesty's Vice Consul at Bitlis to press the local authorities to arrest the murderers and recover the stolen money. The murderers were subsequently arrested, tried, and condemned to death, and the sentences were referred to the Court of Cassation at Constantinople for confirmation. Her Majesty's Ambassador had instructed the legal adviser to Her Majesty's Embassy to watch the case, but he has not yet reported that it has come on for trial. A further representation to the Porte was made by Her Majesty's Ambassador on the subject of the stolen money, of which only about £20 had been recovered by the 13th of May. His Excellency has now forwarded a telegram from Her Majesty's Vice Consul at Bitlis, dated the 9th instant, stating that orders had been issued by the Porte to the Vali of Bitlis for the recovery of the money from the murderers, in default of which their property was to be sold to make up the amount. These orders were duly transmitted by the Vali to the Mutessarif of Sairt. We have never heard anything as to the complicity of the Governor or Public Prosecutor.