§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the Foreign Office is in possession of information which can be laid before the House respecting the Law, or customs regulating the succession in the Royal and reigning families of Turkey, Persia, Morocco, Zanzibar, and Tunis?
§ MR. BOURKESir, there is a great deal of Correspondence in the Foreign Office on the subject; but I am not prepared to state just now that it is of sufficient importance to justify its being laid before Parliament. However, my hon. Friend can peruse it and communicate with me, and if it is worth while to make it public, there is no objection to do so. According to the best authorities I can consult, there is no written law of succession in Mahomedan countries, but the matter is decided in different nations according to custom. With regard to the countries mentioned, I could not give any information within the limits of an Answer to a Question; but, generally, I may say there is no written law, and the succession is determined by dynastic or political considerations.
§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFasked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether the India Office is in possession 627 of any information which can be laid before the House respecting the Laws or customs regulating the succession in the Royal and reigning families of Afghanistan and other Mahomedan States in India?
§ MR. E. STANHOPESir, a great deal of information on this subject has already at different times been laid before Parliament; but the fact is, that the laws and customs regulating the succession in the Royal and governing families in the Mahomedan States of India are so various that it is impossible, within reasonable limits, to give any further information which would show the existence of any fixed rule upon the subject, further than was pointed out in Lord Canning's adoption despatch in April, 1860.