§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYI beg to ask Her Majesty's Government, Whether an engagement has been concluded between the British and Russian Governments agreeing that the Afghan and Russian outposts shall not advance beyond their present positions; what is the date of such an agreement, if it exists; and for what length of time will it remain valid; and whether the Afghan Government is a party to it? If I understand correctly what the Prime Minister is reported to have said last night, the right hon. Gentleman stated that the Afghan Government is not a party to the arrangement. The important point is, what is the length of time during which it will remain valid? If it remain permanently valid, England has abandoned the greater part of that for which she was contending; and I fancy that the language which has been used by the Government on former occasions will be at variance with such a result; but if it is not permanently valid, of course these remarks do not apply. There is another Question which I wish to ask, and it is, whether the agreement, or rather arrangement, as I believe I ought to call it, with the Russian Government is of an absolute and an unconditional character, or whether words have been introduced into it which will enable the Russian Government to depart from it if they should think proper to do so?
§ EARL GRANVILLEI think that it will be better to read to your Lordships the telegram which has been received by the Government from Sir Edward Thornton in response to the inquiry which I made on Saturday. It is to this effect—
St. Petersburg, March 16, 1885.The Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs states that the Russian troops will not advance from the positions now occupied by them provided that the Afghan Forces do not advance or attack, or unless in the case of some extraordinary reason—such, for instance, as a disturbance in Penjdeh. He also states that the strictest orders have been sent to the Russian Commanders to avoid by every possible means 1428 a conflict or any incitement to a conflict, and that these orders will be repeated.With regard to the further Questions put by the noble Marquess, I have to say that as to the date of the agreement the noble Marquess has quoted correctly what was said yesterday by Mr. Gladstone; but Mr. Gladstone's statement was founded upon several telegrams, the last of which was dated the 5th of March, and this telegram is dated yesterday. The noble Marquess asks an important Question as to the length of time during which the agreement will remain valid. I think that the noble Marquess asked that Question under a misconception. This arrangement has nothing whatever to do with the final settlement of this most important question; and I trust that both Governments will be able to bring that question to a satisfactory conclusion. This is merely an arrangement at the present moment to prevent what there is very great risk of—namely, that by an unauthorized action on the part of the Afghan or of the Russian Forces a collision might arise which would embitter the whole subject and make it much more difficult to deal with. With regard to the communication of the arrangement to the Ameer, our instructions to Sir Peter Lumsden are to exercise all his influence to prevent the Afghans from making an attack on the Russians, and Sir Peter Lumsden is in constant communication with the Ameer and his officers who are on the spot.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYDo I understand the noble Earl to say that the engagement into which the country has entered involves the acquiescence for an indefinite time of the presence of the Russian troops in the places where they now are?
THE EARL OF KIMBERLEYAs I understand the matter, the answer is certainly "No!" It is a temporary arrangement to prevent a collision between the Russian and Afghan troops, in order that the negotiations may proceed. The agreement, therefore, does not involve our acquiescence in the presence of the Russian troops in the places where they now are for an indefinite time.
§ LORD STRATHNAIRNwas understood to ask whether, when the Afghan Boundary Commission resumed their duties, the Russian Forces would retire 1429 towards Russia, and the Afghans towards Afghanistan, or whether both Forces would be drawn up in array opposite to each other?
§ EARL GRANVILLEI think that it is only fair that I should tell the noble and gallant Lord that even if he gives Notice, I can only say that I do not think it desirable, during these difficult and delicate negotiations, to raise such a point by means of Questions.