§ MR. E. STANHOPEasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, What is the total extent of the territory in Central Asia recently annexed to the Russian Empire; and what portion of it has hitherto been considered to belong to Persia?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKESir, Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at St. Petersburg has been officially informed that the country immediately surrounding Askabad is the southern boundary of the Tekke Oasis, which has been annexed to Russia; that the head-quarters of General Rohrberg, General Skobeleff's successor, are at Askabad; but that there may be a few troops at Gowars, and that some troops advanced as far as Luftabad, but have returned. Until Her Majesty's Government receive more exact information on the subject of the boundaries of the new district, it would be very difficult to say the exact area in miles, and there is also a difficulty caused by the fact that the Frontiers before the annexation were not settled Frontiers. It is by no means certain that any portion of the territory referred to belongs to Persia; and it will be inexpedient to express any opinion as to how far the Russian advances trench, if they do so at all, on what has been considered Persian territory. Correspondence on the subject has taken place, and further information has been sought for as to the exact boundaries, and it will be placed before the House.
§ VISCOUNT SANDONasked, how soon it was expected that the information could be laid, and in what form it would be placed, before the House?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEthought there was no difficulty in giving a promise that any further information on the subject, whether in the form of a map or otherwise, would be placed before the House as received by the Government. The names were not marked on the maps the Government at present possessed, and he thought it was very difficult to construct a map.