§ MR. ARNOLDasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the communications received from the Government of Persia with reference to the obligation of the Shah under Article C of the Treaty of 1357, by which His Majesty agreed "to relinquish all claims to sovereignty over the territory and city of Herat," are under the consideration of the Government; and, if not, whether those communications can be laid upon the Table of the House without injury to the public service?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKESir, Her Majesty's Government have had under their consideration the communications which were exchanged between Her Majesty's late Advisers and the Government of Persia. Those communications did not lead to any practical result, and Her Majesty's Government are not disposed to revive them; although they would gladly see some arrangement arrived at which would place the city of Herat and the neighbouring territory under a better and more settled form of Government, as the disorders which prevail have always been a constant source of political anxiety. The communications with the Persian Government have been of a strictly confidential character; and Her Majesty's Government doubt whether any of the Papers can be presented to Parliament— at all events, at present. They will, however, consult Her Majesty's Minister in Persia on the subject.