§ 38. Lord ROBERT CECILasked the Prime Minister whether he can now make any further statement with regard to the protection of the Armenians in Turkey?
§ The PRIME MINISTERPrompt measures have been taken by the French Government to send to General Gourand powerful reinforcements in order to reestablish the position and to prevent further attacks upon the Armenians in Cilicia. French ships have also been sent to Mersina. The Allied Naval Commanders at Constantinople, who had authority to despatch an Allied naval flotilla to Mersina, preferred to keep the 893 greater part of the Allied Fleet at Constantinople.
With regard to the position at Constantinople identic instructions for immediate and drastic action have been sent to the High Commissioners by the three Governments of France, Italy and Great Britain, who are acting in complete accord. But it would be inexpedient to reveal the character of these instructions until the reply of the Allied representatives has been received.
§ Lord R. CECILWhen does the right hon. Gentleman expect to receive a reply?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI thought that I might have received it before answering the question. I inquired about it now and found that it had not yet arrived.
Sir J. D. REESHave inquiries been made into the origin of the massacres in Cilicia, and as to who was in fault in the beginning?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWe have some information on the subject, but nothing to justify us in making a final statement.
§ Mr. T. P. O'CONNORThere is a question I intended to ask the Prime Minister by private notice, but perhaps I may as well ask it now—is it a fact that Chaldean Christians have suffered from massacres, and will the Government ensure that all sections of Christians in Turkish territory shall be included in the precautionary measures of protection which are now being devised?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThere have been no massacres in territories occupied by British troops, and I believe that the Chaldean Christians are now under the British flag in the Mosul area. I consulted the Chief of Staff on this very point no later than last Friday, when I was dealing with measures to be taken for their protection, and the hon. Gentleman may rest assured that ample protection will be given.
Lieut.-Colonel W. GUINNESSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that besides the Chaldean Christians who are in the British area there is a considerable number who are "north of Mosul, and that it is most essential in their interests that some provision should be made in the Treaty with Turkey that they shall be 894 given compensation for all losses and that guarantees shall be provided against a repetition of the evils from which they have been suffering?
§ Mr. O'CONNORI am sure that the Chaldeans who are under English or French protection are quite safe, but I understand that there is a considerable number of these people in territory occupied by the Turks?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is quite true, as my hon. Friend has pointed out, but what they are really seeking is that they should have power to defend themselves, and that is what we are engaged in consultation on.
Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESSWill the right hon. Gentleman further take steps to insure that the Turks will give them facilities for migrating from their present villages under the protection of the British or French flag?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not think they are in the least anxious to migrate. They are confident that they can defend themselves.
§ Mr. O'CONNOR (by Private Notice)asked the Prime Minister if he has seen recent telegrams from Cilicia giving fuller details of the massacres of the Armenians there. I am inspired to ask the question by a telegram which tells me that 18,000 have been massacred in the district of Marash and that 1,300 women and children perished in a snowstorm on the way to Adana, and that 8,000 Armenians are still in Marash, subject, of course, to daily perils.
§ The PRIME MINISTERSuch information as has been received does not, I am glad to say, indicate that the massacres have quite reached that formidable figure, but they are formidable enough. The latest figures we have came to something like 15,000. Beyond that, I do not think we have heard anything.
§ Mr. O'CONNORHas the right hon. Gentleman heard the further detail of the death by starvation of the women and children who were refugees from Marash?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI think, as a matter of fact, they would be included in the 15,000. There is no doubt that a great many of them attempted to escape, and that, in a snowstorm, they perished, but these were included, I think, in the figures I have given.