§ Mr. ANEURIN WILLIAMS(by Private Notice) asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether news has been received that the town of Hadjin in Cilicia is in great danger of destruction by Turkish bands; whether the French have officially advised that the women and children should be evacuated; whether this is practically impossible without a strong force; whether the French have sent no troops for the purpose, but have left the defence of the town entirely to the Armenians, who are sending volunteers to attempt its relief; whether on 19th March all communications between Adana and Constantinople and Aleppo were interrupted; whether women and children were being evacuated from the town of Sis to Adana; whether severe fighting was taking place in neighbouring districts; and what steps will be taken by His Majesty's Government to protect the lives of refugees, who were sent back to Cilicia in large numbers by the British Authorities?
Mr. HARMSWORTHOn the receipt of information from Armenian sources that the lives of Armenians at Hadjin were in danger, His Majesty's Government inquired at once of the French Government as to the situation. Information was received that the nearest French troops were at Marash, some eighty kilometres distant, but that no definite menace 1092 existed at the moment. Later information from Paris is to the effect that the situation at Hadjin is disquieting, that it is not feasible to send French troops there, but that the French High Commissioner at Constantinople has been instructed by telegraph to insist on the Turkish Government taking all necessary measures to protect the Armenians, and to add that the French Government will hold them responsible for anything that may occur. This is all the information in the possession of His Majesty's Government.
§ Lord R. CECILIs it not possible to station some British officers in this district so that the British Government can have direct information, instead of being entirely dependent upon the courtesy of our French allies.
Mr. HARMSWORTHThe Noble Lord is well aware of the efforts our French allies are making and how difficult it is to get information.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs the hon. Gentleman aware that within the last two or three hours still more alarming news has come, and that it is stated in the cables just received that the French authorities refuse to send any forces and that massacres have occurred at another town?
Mr. HARMSWORTHThe only information I have is the telegram handed to me by my hon. Friend, and I am not in a position to confirm it or deny it.
Mr. O'CONNORAre we to understand that while these people are being massacred both France and England stand aside without taking any steps to give them adequate protection?
Mr. HARMSWORTHOh, no. That is an entirely wrong conclusion. My hon. Friend is not entitled to assume that the French Government is standing aside.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSWill the Porte be reminded of the threat made about a fortnight ago that if further massacres occurred they would be deprived of Constantinople seeing that further massacres have occurred?
Mr. HARMSWORTHI have already stated that the French Government have made very strong representations to the Sublime Porte.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSWill our Government do so?
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs it not a fact that it was within the jurisdiction of His Majesty's Government until we chose to hand it over to the French, together with the refugees whom we had compelled to return to this territory?
§ Lord R. CECILDoes the hon. Member (Mr. Harmsworth) wish the House to understand that the Government do not regard themselves under any responsibility whatever to do their best to protect the Armenians?
Mr. HARMSWORTHI would not like to say that. The Noble Lord is well aware of the jurisdiction of the French Government in this territory.