§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked the Secretary of State for India, Whether his attention has been called to a letter in the "République Française" of March 14th, from its correspondent in Central Asia, in which he affirms the accuracy of his previous statements with regard to the rapid advance of the Russian railway from the Caspian towards Herat, and especially to the fact stated by the correspondent that no obstacle now intervenes to prevent its immediate completion throughout the whole of the Akhal region, and that measures are being taken by the Russian commanders to dominate Khorassan and secure the trade of Herat; and, whether under these circumstances Her Majesty's Government will complete the British railway to Candahar, in order to prevent the whole trade of Afghanistan, Norther Persia, and the Turcoman Country from falling to Russia? Before the noble Lord replied to the Question, he would ask permission of the House to read two extracts. ["No, no!"] They were extracts from the article in question, and they were of great interest and importance. ["Oh, oh!"] And if it was necessary for him to obtain the privileges of a Member of that House, he would conclude by making a Motion. [Laughter, and "Oh, oh!"] He would not read those extracts until he obtained a fair hearing. ["Order, order!"] He should conclude by moving the adjournment of the debate. The correspondent complained that his statements—[Loud cries of "Order!"]——
§ MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member proposes to put the Question of which he has given Notice. He is not entitled to enter into any extraneous matter, excepting so far as may be necessary for making his Question plain.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTThat is precisely my object, Sir. These ex- 469 tracts are not extraneous, but are made from the correspondent's letter, and they will make the Question perfectly plain. I have refrained from putting them on the Paper, because they would occupy so much space; but I am quite able to read them within five minutes. I am within my right in asking to read them. [Cries of "Name him!" and Laughter.]
§ MR. MONTAGUE GUESTMr. Speaker, I rise to Order. I would ask you, Sir, if any Member of this House is entitled, when he asks a Question, to read an extract from a written document which will occupy five minutes in reading?
§ MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is entitled to do so, if the extracts are necessary to make the Question clear. I must say, however, that the Question of the hon. Member on the Paper appears to be quite plain, and it requires no elucidation with regard to matter of fact.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTIf I understand you, Sir, to rule that I am out of Order in reading these extracts, I shall not do so; but, at the same time, I wish to protest against the way in which, the moment I rose, and before I had the opportunity of saying two words—["Oh, oh!" and cries of "Name him!"]—I wish to protest, Sir, against the manner——
MR. ALDERMAN LAWRENCEMr. Speaker, I rise to Order. I wish to ask whether it is in Order for any hon. Member to protest against your decision?
§ MR. SPEAKERI do not understand the hon. Member to protest against my decision.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTI am not protesting against your decision, Sir, but against the organized interruption from the other side of the House. [Opposition cheers.] It has been too common of late with the Party opposite. I wish to ask you finally, Sir, whether these extracts, which are very important, and will only take a very short time to read, and which are necessary to illustrate my Question, are out of Order? I wish to ask, distinctly, whether I am out of Order?
§ MR. SPEAKERI must inform the hon. Member that it appears to me the Question which he has put on the Paper is quite plain. The document which he 470 proposes to read seems to me to be unnecessary.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTIn deference to your wishes, rather than to your ruling—[Loud cries of "Order!" and "Name him!"]——
§ MR. SPEAKERI must point out to the hon. Member that he must act upon his own responsibility; but I am bound to tell him that his reference to certain Papers seems to be unnecessary to make his Question clear. The Question is perfectly plain.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTI shall not read the extracts then, Sir. What I meant to say was, that I understood you to express a wish rather than a ruling; I did not mean that I would not obey your ruling. I protest, Mr. Speaker, against this organized interruption, which prevents me from enjoying the rights and privileges of a Member of this House. From the first moment that I opened my mouth, and before a word was heard, I have been subjected by the Radical Benches below the Gangway to a deliberate clamour, instances of which have been too common in the House of late. I shall refrain from reading these extracts, not owing to that interruption—for, if necessary, I am prepared to remain here till I am heard—but solely in deference to your wishes. I beg now to ask the noble Marquess the Question which stands in my name.
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONI regret very much that the hon. Member should not have had an opportunity of reading the statements he has referred to. I am of opinion, however, that the Question which he asks is perfectly plain without them. I think that, on a former occasion, he called the attention of the House to the statements of the correspondent of The République Française, and it is, no doubt, perfectly correct that the correspondent, in a subsequent statement, affirmed the substantial accuracy of the statement he previously made. As to our information on the subject, the information which has been received by the Foreign Office is that The Golos published a telegram of the 8th of February, stating that the railway had been extended in the direction of Akhal a distance of 106 versts, or about 75 miles. I am not aware that there is any obstacle to the continuance of the railway through the Akhal territory; but I am not aware 471 that the Foreign Office is in possession of any information which leads us to suppose that measures are being taken by the Russian commanders to dominate Khorassan and secure the trade of Herat. In regard to the latter part of the Question, Her Majesty's Government have not any intention of completing the railway to Candahar for the purpose of preventing the trade of Afghanistan, Northern Persia, and the Turcoman country from falling to Russia.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTMr. Speaker, I shall, at the earliest possible moment, bring this question again before the attention of the House.