§ MR. MACFARLANEasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, If Her Majesty's Government, having acquiesced in the continued occupation by Russian troops of several places alleged to be within the Afghan frontier, any steps are being taken to ascertain whether those places are within the frontier or not; whether the question is to remain undecided until an agreement has been arrived at between the Russian Commissioner and Sir Peter Lumsden, and if any positive date has been fixed for the arrival of the Commissioner to represent Russia; and, further, what course it is proposed to take in the event of the two Commissioners being unable to agree; if in such case the points in dispute will be referred to some neutral arbitrator?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEI do not think that there would be any advantage in my going into these matters at the present moment; and I am, therefore, unable to reply to the hon. Member's Question.
§ MR. MACFARLANEMay I ask the noble Lord, if the House is to understand that so long as Russia neglects or fails to send a Commissioner to meet Sir Peter Lumsden, so long shall she be allowed to remain in possession of the places she now holds? I wish, also, to ask the noble Lord, if he can answer it without detriment to the public service, if when the original agreement between Russia and this country was made for the appointment of a Delimitation Commission, any approximate date was agreed upon for the Russian Commissioner to meet Sir Peter Lumsden; and, if he will state what that date was—I do not say to a day, but a month—and, whether any, and what, reason Russia has given for not keeping to that date?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICENo, Sir; I am afraid I cannot answer that Question.
§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFasked, Whether Her Majesty's Government have taken any steps to cause the agreement or arrangement with the Government of Russia, relating to the respective positions of Russian, English, and Afghan troops on the frontier of Afghanistan, and now resting on a verbal assurance by the Russian Minister to the British Ambassador, to be recorded in a formal Document, bearing the signatures of authorized Representatives of the Russian and British Governments; and, if so, whether such a Document has been drawn up and signed?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICENo, Sir; Her Majesty's Government have not done so.
§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFAre we, then, to understand that the agreement or arrangement, on which depends the issue of peace or war, depends upon the verbal assurance of the Foreign Minister of Russia?
§ [No reply.]