§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether the British Cabinet has addressed a remonstrance to Russia upon the fact that Askabad, which he stated a few weeks ago was the extreme limit of the Russian outposts, has been made the headquarters of the Russian Commander, and occupied by a large force, Askabad being over 300 miles nearer British India than Krasnovodah, on the Caspian, which was General Skobeleff's headquarters a year ago; whether it is true that the Russian Cavalry has recently been surveying the Keshef road, close to Meshed, the capital of Persian Khorassan, as their newest boundary; whether the British Government intend to protest against the violation of Persian territory by the Russian generals, and to insist upon the presence of a British officer on the Delimitation Commission for the Persian Frontier; whether he has seen the statement of the correspondent of the "République Française" in Central Asia—that
In a very short time the Tekkes themselves will furnish the White Czar with excellent cavalry. The main result is this. The road to Herat is broadly open, without the least fear of danger, without the least difficulty to encounter. There is nothing more than to march some 250 miles, and to say 'J'y suis.' The Tekkes, the bravest people of Turkestan, have submitted. The road to Herat has behind it a good railroad to convey men and provision. It is only an affair of a year or two, and amid 624 admirable conditions of security, rest, and every kind of facility. What could Persia do against Russia? Russia is about to put her hands upon the keys which will open to her the gates of Afghanistan;and, whether he can state how much of the Russian Railway from the Caspian towards Herat is already completed?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKE, in reply, said, he was afraid he could add very little to what had been previously stated in answer to other Questions on the subject, or to the statement made by his noble Friend the Secretary of State for India. He (Sir Charles W. Dilke) had frequently stated that there was a Russian force at Askabad, and some weeks ago he mentioned the name of the village near Askabad where there was a Russian outpost. With regard to the second branch of the Question, he could only say that the Government had not heard of any crossing of the Persian Frontier by Russian Cavalry, and that they had no intention of protesting against a violation of territory of which they had not even heard. As to the presence of British officers on the Delimitation Commission on the Persian Frontier, he had already answered two Questions on the subject, and stated that the subject of an application with regard to the presence of British officers on the Commission was under consideration at the present time. The fourth branch of the Question consisted of a long quotation from a French newspaper, which he had not previously seen. The subject to which the fifth branch of the Question referred had already been explained in the House of Commons. He could not give the House any fresh information on that subject.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT, being of opinion that the hon. Baronet had not really answered his Question, gave Notice that he would draw attention to the insufficiency of the information of the Government on the points to which the Question referred.