§ 3. Mr. BUXTONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the reports of disorder in the Armenian vilayets; and whether the Allies will take steps to place without delay detachments of Allied troops at the chief centres of population, in accordance with the provisions of the armistice, in order to prevent the occurrence of massacres on a large scale requiring the employment of large forces?
Mr. BALFOURThe hon. Member may rest assured that the Allied Governments and their executive officers on the spot will exercise the utmost vigilance in regard to Armenia, and that all possible steps will be taken to protect the population.
§ Mr. BUXTONMay we assume that the Allies are in a position to send relief wherever it is necessary to prevent starvation?
Mr. BALFOURI can hardly give any promise of that kind. If my hon. Friend will reflect upon the gigantic area of the country in Europe and in the East where food conditions are unsatisfactory, he will see that I can give no pledge that food will be allocated to any particular district.