§ Mr. KINGasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has reconsidered the case of Mrs. Thoumaian, an Armenian lady, who, on 21st December, at Stratford, was fined £20 for an offence under the Aliens Restriction Order: and whether, in view of the fact that this lady's husband was tortured and condemned to death by the Turkish authorities and was declared innocent by a British Consular Report, and that she herself has been for years well known in this country as advocating the Armenian cause, he has seen fit to advise the exercise of the Royal prerogative in her case?
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§ Mr. McKENNAIn this case the lady acted wrongly in refusing to obey the requirements of the law as it then stood, and, in view of her persistent refusal, I think the magistrates were justified in their sentence. But, having regard to the circumstances, which were not before them and to the change in the law in favour of Armenians made by the Order in Council of 7th January, I have felt warranted in advising the remission of the fine.