§ MR. ONSLOWasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether Her Majesty's Government have any means of knowing if the people of Afghanistan are prepared to accept Yakoob Khan as Ameer; and, if, before treating with Yakoob Khan, Her Majesty's Government are prepared to recognize him as de facto Ruler of Afghanistan?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONhad also placed the following Notice on the Paper:—To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether the Government intend to lay upon the Table any further Papers relating to the War in Afghanistan; and, whether he intends shortly to make any statement on the subject?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, with regard to the first part of the Question, I am really not able to say that we have any means of information on the point; and, as to the second part, it would not be very possible for me just now to give an answer to it. With respect both to the Question generally, and the one of which the noble Lord opposite (the Marquess of Hartington) has given Notice, I wish to say that we are at the present moment on the eve of communications, which may perhaps have already begun; and it would be impossible for me, without inconvenience, to make any statement at this time. We hope it will not be very long before we are able to do so, and we certainly wish to do it as soon as possible.