§ 29. Mr. A. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can say to what extent shortness of 392 food exists in Armenia; and what steps the Government are taking, or are about to' take, for the revictualling of the country?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Cecil Harmsworth)There is undoubtedly a serious shortage of food in Armenia, largely due to the inability of the people to sow their grain and to the wanton destruction by the Turks of such crops as were grown.
The whole question of revictualling the country is now in the hands of the Food Section of the Supreme Economic Council at Paris.
Meanwhile, in such parts of Armenia as are in British occupation, widespread relief is being administered by the British military authorities on the spot, chiefly by the use of surplus army stocks.
For such parts of Armenia as are not in British occupation provision is to be made by the American Relief Mission, under Dr. Barton, to which every possible facility is being given by the British naval and military authorities. Dr. Barton's Mission arrived at Constantinople some weeks ago, and has already begun its operations.