HC Deb 10 June 1858 vol 150 cc1850-1
MR. GREGORY

said, he would beg to ask the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs if the British Mission has been recalled from Herat; if the independence of Herat, as guaranteed in the late Treaty of Peace with Persia is no longer to be insisted on; and, if so, whether the main object of the late war has not been abandoned? With the permission of the hon. Gentleman, he would also ask another question, of which he had not given notice—namely, whether the Persian Government has not advanced claims to territory lying to the east of Herat and bordering on Candahar, and whether it is not at this time threatening the country of Seistan, to the south of Herat, also contiguous to Candahar?

MR. SEYMOUR FITZGERALD

said, the term "British Mission" was scarcely applicable to the Mission of Colonel Taylor and some other British Officers who were sent to Herat, in order to see that the stipulations for the evacuation of that place were punctually fulfilled. As soon as that condition was fulfilled the object for which Colonel Taylor was sent to Herat was satisfactorily performed, and he returned. The independence of Herat, as guaranteed in the Treaty of Peace with Persia, had been fully recognised, and the Government had no reason to think that the stipulations of the Treaty would in any respect be evaded. As to whether the main object of the war with Persia had not been abandoned, he considered that the question was answered by what he had already stated, although it was rather difficult to say what was the main object, as the war with Persia was declared and carried on and peace was concluded without any explanations being offered to the House of Commons. With respect to the last question of the hon. Gentleman, claims were set up by the Persian Government to the territory lying to the east of Herat and bordering on Candahar; but the Government had received a communication from Mr. Murray, our Minister there, stating that in consequence of his expostulations those claims had been withdrawn, and the territory recognised as an independent part of Affghanistan. As to the country of Seistan, to the south of Herat, beyond the fact that a claim was advanced by Persia, the Government had at present no information on the subject.