§ MAJOR ANSTRUTHER-GRAYI beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has as yet received any reply from the Turkish Government with regard to the ransom paid for the release of Mr. Abbott from brigands.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYThe Answer is in the negative.
§ MAJOR ANSTRUTHER-GRAYasked whether the Government would not take some steps to urge a settlement of this matter.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYsaid that what was in the mind of the hon. and gallant 534 Member had also been in his mind, and he had been looking back to precedents. In the two cases most nearly parallel the time was in one case one and a half year and in the other two and a half years. He intended to prosecute this case with the object of establishing, if possible, a better record; but at present he was well within time.
§ MAJOR ANSTRUTHER-GRAYasked whether the money received in the past was not derived from the taxpayers of Cyprus.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYsaid that in any case it was money which would otherwise have gone to the Porte.
§ MAJOR ANSTRUTHER-GRAYasked whether he was to understand that the precedent would be followed.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYNo; because that precedent was established only after discussion had taken place as a last resort. Whether it will be necessary in this case to resort to any measure of that kind I cannot say until proceedings are further advanced.