§ MR. F. S. STEVENSONI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the unsatisfactory state of the administration which prevails in Asia Minor, the Foreign Office will consider the desirability of increasing the staff of British Vice Consuls in the Provinces inhabited by Armenians?
§ * SIR E. GREYAs I stated to the hon. Member yesterday, it is necessary 1187 first to consider deficiencies in the Consular staff where purely British interests are affected. I may add, however, that the Secretary of State does propose to establish a Consul at Angora and to revive the appointment of a Vice Consul at Mosul.
MR. J. W. LOWTHEE (Cumberland, Penrith)Will the Secretary of State also take into consideration the advisability of re-establishing the school of student interpreters, which I think only two or three years ago was temporarily suspended, and which supplied gentlemen who are subsequently appointed to Vice Consulships and other positions in the Consular Service in the East?
§ * SIR E. GREYI believe it is not intended to re-establish the school, but to make an alternative arrangement. I cannot say more without notice.
MR. CHANGING (Northampton, E.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the widespread interest which has been shown in the case of the persecuted Armenians in Asiatic Turkey, Her Majesty's Government will direct Papers to be laid upon the Table of the House giving full details of the steps which have been taken during the last three years by the British Diplomatic and Consular officers to alleviate the sufferings of the oppressed Christians in Asia Minor; and, if so, when the Papers will be in the hands of Members?
§ * SIR E. GREYHer Majesty's Government are of opinion that the publication of further Papers would not benefit the Armenian and other Christian races in Asiatic Turkey, whose welfare ought to be the first consideration in any step of this kind.