§ MR. JERNINGHAMasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If it be possible for him to state to the House, whether negotiations have now been entered into by Her Majesty's Government with the Governments of Russia and Persia for an early and definitive settlement of the Russo-Persian and Afghan frontiers?
§ LORD JOHN MANNERSasked whether the Foreign Office has received any information from Teheran respecting the alleged incorporation of Sarakhs into the Russian Empire?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEIn reply to the Question of my hon. Friend, and to that of the noble Lord the Member for North Leicestershire, I may state that communications are taking place with the Russian Government, but they have not reached a stage at which it would be desirable that I should make any statement as to their nature. Her Majesty's Government have been informed by Her Majesty's Minister at Teheran that it was rumoured at Sarakhs that the Russian Commander-in-Chief was coming there to take possession, and make over to Merv Turcomans' lands on the right bank of the Heri Rud.
§ SIR HERBERT MAXWELLasked, whether it was true, as stated in a telegram from The Times Correspondent at Calcutta, that the Indian Government was more anxious about the state of affairs in Central Asia than it was willing openly to admit?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEsaid, that that was a Question which ought to be asked of the Under Secretary of State for India.