MR. C. BECKETT-DENISONasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If the Government have any reliable information as to the military operations of Russia against the Turkomans in the direction of Merv; and, whether any inquiries have been made at St. Petersburg as to the aim and object of those operations?
§ MR. BOURKESir, Her Majesty's Government believe that operations have been undertaken lately from the Attrek in the direction of that portion of the country which is inhabited by the Tekke Turkomans. With regard to the second part of the Question, the Russian Government have denied formally to Her Majesty's Ambassador at St. Petersburg, and the Russian Ambassador here has also formally denied to my noble Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, that there is any intention to march further towards Merv.