§ MR. ONSLOWasked the Under Secretary of State for India, Whether there is any truth in the telegraphic information from the correspondent of the "Times" to the effect that "the Government has presented a battery of six-pounder guns, with harness, and 2,000 smooth-bore Enfields to Sirdar Shere Ali, the Governor of Candahar;" whether His Excellency the Viceroy has any intention of presenting to other Sirdars in Afghanistan, supposed for the time being to be friendly to us, guns and rifles, and to what extent; and, whether Her Majesty's Government has considered the advisability of allowing His Excellency the Viceroy the power of giving arms to temporary native rulers without the previous sanction of the Secretary of State in Council of Her Majesty's Government?
§ MR. E. STANHOPESir, I am afraid that we have no information on this subject, and do not, therefore, know whether it is true. No communication has been made to us about it. But I may add that the whole policy to be adopted towards Afghanistan is the subject of constant communication between the Viceroy and the Secretary of State.