§ 74. Mr. A. WILLIAMSasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the official communication sent to the Press on 20th September charged the Armenians in Baku with having negotiated to hand over the town to our enemies; whether the negotiations in question were, in fact, entered into by the advice of General Dunsterville; and, if so, how the original statement came to be made without that vital qualification?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe report that appeared in the Press on the 20th September made no charge, but was confined to a statement of facts as known at the time. In an extract of his dispatch received subsequently, General Dunsterville stated that he had advised the Armenians to negotiate with the Turks when he realised that the fall of the town was imminent.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this report as a whole very clearly did convey imputations against the Armenians?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI do not think so, and I cannot at the moment add anything to the answer I have given.