§ 43. Mr. ANEURIN WILLIAMSasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received news of the massacre of about 1,500 Armenians by Nationalist bands near Marash at the end of January; whether on 1st February two American citizens were murdered near Aintab; and whether he is aware that much indignation has been aroused among Europeans in Constantinople and 504 Asia Minor, and that they are calling out for protection against these continued outrages?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODThe answer to the first and second parts of the question is, I regret to say, that similar information has been received from a private source by His Majesty's High Commissioner at Constantinople. No special information is available bearing on the last part of the question.
§ Mr. T. P. O'CONNORIs it not a fact that both the English and French colonies have over and over again been warned of the possibility and probability of these massacres, and whether their appeals either for armed support by the Allies or provision for arming their own population in their own defence have not been neglected by the authorities both of one country and the other?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODIn answer to the hon. Member (Mr. O'Connor), I have every sympathy with the motive of his question, but he must give me notice of a question of such detail.
§ Mr. O'CONNORMay I ask a question in regard to which I think the hon. Gentleman has no need to ask for notice, whether these massacres do not confirm the Government in the frequently announced policy that none of the Christian subjects of Turkey, like the Armenians, shall be any longer, under the new arrangements with Turkey, be subjected to the possibility of massacre as in the past.
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI wish it were possible to give an answer which would be satisfactory to my hon. Friend and myself.
§ Mr. A. WILLIAMSIs it not a fact that the Armenians went back to these districts under the encouragement of the British authorities?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI must have notice of questions of that kind.