§ MR. FELL (Great Yarmouth)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if any reply has been received from the Turkish Government to the request made for the repayment of the ransom paid by the British Government for the release of Mr. Abbott; and whether there is any connection between this payment and the fresh capture by brigands in the neighbourhood of Smyrna.
§ MR. CHURCHILLNo reply has yet been received from the Turkish Government. With regard to the second part of the Question, we have no information beyond what has appeared in the Press, as to the alleged fresh capture by brigands near Smyrna, which is not that of a British subject.
§ In answer to a further Question by Mr. Fell,
§ MR. CHURCHILLsaid he was no great authority on the varying methods of paying ransoms to brigands.