§ 29. Mr. J. HARRISasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his 918 attention has been drawn to the Report submitted by Miss Yeppe to the League of Nations, in which it is stated that in the region of Aleppo there are still over 30,000 Armenian women and children detained in Moslem houses; and whether His Majesty's Government propose to take any steps towards securing their release, either by direct representations to the Turkish Government or through the Council of the League of Nations?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAlthough the form of the question is somewhat misleading, His Majesty's Government are aware of this Report. Every effort was made during the Lausanne Conference to provide for the continuance of the work of reclaiming forcibly Islamised women and children, which had been successfully carried out since the Armistice by a League of Nations Commission in Turkey. I regret, however, that the Allies failed to obtain any satisfaction on this point on that occasion, and I see no prospect of success if the question were reopened at the present moment.
§ Mr. HARRISIn what respect is it misleading?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIn two or three respects. For instance, there is the expression "in the region of Aleppo." The Report does not say that. It says, "in the region reached by Aleppo," or "through Aleppo," or something indicating a very much wider area than the area of Aleppo.
§ Captain BERKELEYDid not the minority provisions of the Treaty of Lausanne offer any assistance in dealing with this?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, but the hon. and gallant Gentleman will observe that we have hitherto not been able to ratify the Treaty of Lausanne.