§ MR. ASHBURYasked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether Her Majesty's Government has received any communication from the Indian Government to the effect that official or other documents were found in Cabul, or elsewhere, indicating that the Russian Government, or its agents, had opened negotiations with the late Ameer Shere Ali, or Yakoob Khan, prejudicial to the interests of British India, and in contravention of the documentary understandings between the two Governments 147 that Afghanistan was beyond the sphere of Russian interests or designs?
§ MR. E. STANHOPESir, in answer to the Question of my hon. Friend, and also in answer to a similar Question of which Notice has been given on this subject by my hon. Friend the Member for Guildford (Mr. Onslow), I have to say that it is true that certain Russian Correspondence has been discovered at Cabul, and is now in the possession of Her Majesty's Government. It is not, as my hon. Friend will have observed, included in the Papers circulated this morning; and Her Majesty's Government, after very careful consideration, have come to the conclusion that it would not at present be to the interest of the Public Service to produce that Correspondence, or to give any information as to its contents.
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEsaid, after what occurred yesterday, he would not ask the Under Secretary of State for India whether the Government were in possession of information which would show the total number of Afghans executed by Her Majesty's Forces since the beginning of October last, and the charges on which they were executed; but he should like to know when the Report stated to be on its way from Sir Frederick Roberts might be expected to be received?
§ MR. E. STANHOPE,in reply, said, he could give no definite information on the subject. It might arrive by any mail.