MR. GLADSTONEI wish. Sir, to ask the right hon. Gentleman the President of the Board of Control when we are likely to have two papers laid before us connected with the Persian expedition, but unconnected with the negotiations now in progress? I mean—first, the instructions from the Government under which a military expedition was sent to Persia; and, secondly, the correspondence between the Government and the East India Company as to the mode in which the charges of the Persian war are to be borne?
MR. VERNON SMITHsaid, there would be no objection to produce a portion of the papers immediately. His right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer had on a previous occasion stated the nature of the arrangement with the East India Company.
MR. GLADSTONEIs there any objection to state the date of the instructions to which I have referred?
MR. VERNON SMITHsaid, the instructions for sending a military and naval expedition into the Persian Gulf were dated September 26.
§ MR. BAILLIESir, I beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether instructions for fitting out an expedition to the Persian Gulf were not issued in the middle of July last; whether they did not reach Bombay on the 20th of August, and whether transports were not taken up and other preparations made for the expedition on the receipt of those instructions?
MR. VERNON SMITHProvisional orders were despatched in the middle of July to the Government of India to make preparations in case an expedition should be necessary, but final instructions for the expedition were not sent until the date I have mentioned.