§ MR. RYLANDSasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether there is any foundation for a statement which has appeared in the public press to the effect that a mistake has been committed by the Foreign Office in the Russian negotiations by describing the Oxus as the northern boundary of Afghanistan, including the territories of Badakshan and Wakhan, it being alleged that those territories extended for some distance to the north of the Oxus?
§ VISCOUNT ENFIELDBefore the boundary in question was agreed upon, Lord Granville consulted the India Office, and the line of the Oxus was deliberately adopted as the right line, on 725 the authority of Sir Henry Rawlinson, perhaps the best authority in England on these little known countries; and the advice of Sir Henry Rawlinson was entirely concurred in by the Government of India, which was carefully consulted on the subject.
§ MR. RYLANDSsaid, the noble Lord had not replied to his Question. Lord Granville in his despatch said that the line of the Oxus formed the northern boundary of the territories of Afghanistan. He wished to know whether the noble Lord was prepared to assure the House that no territories belonging to Afghanistan overlapped the boundaries fixed in the Correspondence between the British and Russian Governments?
§ VISCOUNT ENFIELDI apprehend, Sir, that the reply I gave to my hon. Friend's Question was sufficiently explicit. My noble Friend Lord Granville does not believe that the Foreign Office committed any mistake in indicating the boundary alluded to in the despatch of Prince Gortchakoff. But, with the permission of the House, I will refer to the particular boundary mentioned by the Secretary of State for India in "another place." My noble Friend the Secretary for India said, in reply to the Duke of Somerset—
I am obliged to my noble Friend fur patting his Question, because undoubtedly there has been an impression—I will not say in the pal die mind, but in the mind of some writers in the press—that the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in indicating the boundaries of the two Provinces of Badakshan and Wakhan, has made a geographical error. Now, I am bound to say that if the Foreign Office had made any error in the matter, they would have been led into it by the India Office; because, of course, the Foreign Office applied to us for information. But I am happy to assure my noble Friend that, as far as I can understand, no error has been committed. A very careful memorandum on the frontier of those Provinces was drawn at the India Office from maps and most authentic information furnished by Sir Henry Rawlinson, who, besides being a most distinguished member of our Council, is also President of the Royal Geographical Society. That memorandum was sent out to India, and there it was discussed and considered by Lord Mayo. It was sent home in a despatch, drawn up, I am sorry to say, too late to receive his signature; but it was signed by Lord Napier after the noble Earl's death. That despatch entirely approves the line drawn by Sir Henry Rawlinson, which follows the Oxus up to a point where it branches into two comparatively small streams—one coming down to the Hindoo Koosh, and the other to a lake. The original intention was to adopt the southern branch, running down to the Hindoo Koosh; 726 but there are a very considerable number of villages on both sides of the stream; and by Sir Henry Rawlinson's advice the right hand branch in the direction of the lake, beyond which there are no villages and no inhabited country, was taken. That boundary was fully assented to by the Government of India; and I have every reason to believe it is perfectly correct.I hope the House, after that statement, fortified by the high authority of Sir Henry Rawlinson, will be of opinion that Lord Granville and the Foreign Office have made no mistake in the matter.
§ Afterwards—
§ MR. BAILLIE COCHRANEasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, What interpretation Her Majesty's Government put upon the Despatch of Prince Gortchakow of January 19 old style (31 new style), in which it is stated that the Russian Government accepts the frontier line of Afghanistan as laid down by England, because we have engaged to insist on Shere Ali giving up all measures of aggression or further conquest, and that the Russian Government see in this assurance a real guarantee for the maintenance of peace; and, whether Her Majesty's Government accepts the view of Prince Gortchakow that we have thus guaranteed the peaceful attitude of Afghanistan?
§ VISCOUNT ENFIELDThe interpretation put by Her Majesty's Government upon the despatch of Prince Gortchakow of January 19 old style (31 new style) and his views is, that it appears to be in accordance with Lord Granville's despatch of January 24, 1873, quoted by Prince Gortchakow, in which it is stated—
That Her Majesty's Government will not fail to impress upon the Ameer in the strongest terms the advantages which are given to him in the recognition by Great Britain and Russia of the boundaries which he claims, and of the consequent obligation upon him to abstain from any aggression on his part; and Her Majesty's Government will continue to exercise their influence in the same direction.Prince Gortchakow appears to understand, as it was intended, that we should continue the exercise of our influence, which the Prince thinks will be sufficient for the purpose.
§ MR. BAILLIE COCHRANEasked, If the noble Lord would lay upon the Table the answer to Prince Gortchakow?
§ VISCOUNT ENFIELDreplied that he had already stated that the Papers would 727 be produced. When they were upon the Table, if the hon. Gentleman was not satisfied, perhaps he would kindly repeat his Question.