§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEI wish to ask the Prime Minister, in regard to the course of Business this evening, Whether he will be willing to agree, as soon as he has made his statement, to the adjournment of the debate, so that there may be time to consider what course ought to be taken?
MR. GLADSTONEI am in very great doubt whether that request will be made after the statement is made; but I certainly can enter into no preliminary arrangement on the subject. Probably the right hon. Gentleman will ask me whether I have any further intelligence with regard to the telegrams from Sir Peter Lumsden. The state of the case is this—Sir Peter Lumsden has from time to time transmitted certain pieces of intelligence partaking very much, on account of his position, of the nature of rumour, and sometimes apparently altogether of the nature of rumour, with respect to which "we have referred to St. Petersburg whenever there appeared a case for doing so. On Saturday we had a telegram from Sir Peter Lumsden, in which he states that he has instructed Mr. Stephen, whose name is probably known to many Members of the House, to leave for London, in order to convey to Lord Granville a map and detailed despatch of all the circumstances connected with the Russian attack on the Afghans at Penjdeh, as also with a view of communicating to him the actual position of affairs. I think it very doubtful whe- 824 ther we shall receive any isolated information which it would be desirable to lay before the House on the point. It is with great satisfaction I have heard of the mission of Mr. Stephen. The date of his arrival here I am not able to fix, because I do not know exactly the time the journey may occupy.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTI wish to ask the Prime Minister whether he can state now if a despatch by M. de Giers, which appeared in all the English newspapers of the 23rd, and which threw the responsibility for the unfortunate affair at Penjdeh on Sir Peter Lumsden's escort, and on the meeting between the Viceroy and the Ameer—I wish to ask whether this despatch is authentic or not?
MR. GLADSTONEI believe this Question was replied to on a former day. My noble Friend the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs stated that it would not be expedient for us to give any answer in regard to that subject at the present time.
§ MR. E. STANHOPEAre we right in supposing that Mr. Stephen has started from Meshed, or is he still with Sir Peter Lumsden?
MR. GLADSTONEI am not able to answer that Question. The telegram was, I think, stated by me in effect. I cannot tell whether at the moment of the despatch of this telegram he was with Sir Peter Lumsden or not.
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTECan the right hon. Gentleman say when Mr. Stephen may be expected?
§ MR. RITCHIEI wish to ask whether the Government propose to suspend and postpone the negotiations with Russia on this question till Mr. Stephen arrives?