§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he can state how many miles the Russian Forces have advanced from the Caspian towards India, (i.e., from Krasnovodsk by road to Sarakhs) since Her Majesty's present Ministers came into Office?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEThe Russian advance from Krasnovodsk had reached Kizil Arvat, a distance of 144 miles, in December, 1870. It ceased till 1877, when it was resumed. In 1879 it had reached Dengel Tepe, a total distance of 254 miles. Since then it has been continued as far as Baba Dermaz, a distance of about 375 miles.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked whether one of the Sarakhs was not now in possession of a Russian force?
§ MR. MACFARLANEsaid, that when Notice was given of the hon. Member's Question he had himself given Notice that he would at the same time ask the noble Lord whether he could state the comparative acquisitions of territory by Russia during the respective periods when the late Government and the present Government were in Office? Was the noble Lord now in a position to make such a statement, including the 1013 acquisition of The Port of Batoum and other territory in Armenia?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICErepeated the substance of the answer he had already given to the hon. Member for Eye. With reference to the Question of the hon. Member for Carlow, he had framed his previous answer so as to cover both the periods mentioned.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTgave Notice that he would call attention to the extraordinary inaccuracy of the noble Lord's answer in reference to the advance of Russia, and to a statement made by the official Russian journal of the Caucasus, containing the following words: —
If we desired we could undoubtedly conquer India; but our policy is to liberate Indians from the British yoke.