§ MR. SCHWANN (Manchester, N.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to alleged plundering and burning of houses in the Armenian village of Norschen, near Mush, by Kurds and Turkish troops, and also of maltreatment of men and outraging of women on the same occasion; whether he has any information showing that outrages of a similar character are threatened in Sasun; and will he inquire and state what steps he proposes to take.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Mr. A. J. BALFOUR,) Manchester, E., for Lord CranborneAccording to reports from His Majesty's Vice Consul at Bitlis in January last a party of Armenian revolutionists who had taken refuge in the village of Norschen were attacked by Turkish troops and Kurds. The revolutionists managed to escape after killing one officer and wounding another. The troops and Kurds are said to have afterwards plundered the village and ill-treated the inhabitants, but the report has not been verified. His Majesty's Government have no information leading them to believe that disturbances are imminent in the Sasun district, but inquiry shall be made.