§ MR. ASHBURYasked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether any of the secret Correspondence from the Russian Government or its agents to the late Ameer Shere Ali or others of influence in Afghanistan, found in Cabul or elsewhere, and believed to be prejudicial to the ultimate safety or interests of India, dated from or about the early part of 1873, or any dates prior to the Declaration of War by Russia against Turkey; and, if so, whether Her Majesty's Government, consequent on such discovery, has at any time required explanations from the Russian Government in reference to such Correspondence, having regard to the Memorandum of July 17/29, 1877, brought to this Country by Colonel Wellesley, and delivered to Lord Derby at the special request of the Emperor of Russia, of which the following are extracts:—
The Emperor has not the slightest wish or intention in any way to menace the interests of England either with regard to Constantinople, Egypt, the Suez Canal, or India.With respect to India, His Majesty not only considers it impossible to do so, but an act of folly if practicable;22 whether, in the event of such explanations having been asked for, Her Majesty's Government can at the present time state if it would be in the public interest that the Correspondence should be laid upon the Table of the House to explain the apparent inconsistency of the Russian Emperor's most pacific messages of 1877 in the face of the Despatches or Correspondence from the Russian Government or its agents found in Afghanistan; and, whether the same were dated anterior or subsequent to the Declaration of War by Russia against Turkey?
§ MR. E. STANHOPESir, Her Majesty's Government have already on more than one occasion stated that they are not prepared to produce the Russian Correspondence found at Cabul. Under these circumstances, the House will understand that I am unable to give to my hon. Friend any information as to any of the contents of those documents, or of any action which may have been taken upon them.