§ On the Motion of Mr. ONSLOW, Address for Return of the amount of Money given by the Indian Government to the different Ameers of Afghanistan since the Amirship of Dost Mahomed (inclusive); also the number of Guns, both large and small, and the amount of Ammunition for the same period, agreed to, as an unopposed return.
§ MR. ONSLOWasked the Secretary of State for India, Whether His Excellency the Viceroy has applied for sanction from the Home Government to give Abdul Rahman a further sum of money to defend himself against Ayoob Khan; and, if His Excellency has not so applied, if it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to interfere in any way in the internal affairs in Afghanistan by assisting one candidate for the Ameership against another; or, whether it is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to look on and leave the result of 609 the present conflict to the survival of the fittest?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONSir, in reply to the hon. Member's Question, I have to say that, although we have been in constant communication with the Viceroy of India on the subject of the state of affairs in Afghanistan, we have received no information whatever to the effect that Abdul Rahman Khan has made any application either for money, arms, or ammunition. So far as we are aware, it is not the intention of the Government of India to interfere in any way in the contest now proceeding between Abdul Rahman Khan and Ayoob Khan. With reference to the Return which the hon. Member moved for, as to the amount of money given by the India Government to various Ameers of Afghanistan, I find, on inquiry, that the information as to the money and arms supplied to former Ameers is not in the India Office, and we could not give it as an unopposed Return without communicating with the Government of India, in order to ascertain how far they have information on the subject.
§ MR. E. STANHOPEasked whether any further Papers relating to Afghanistan will be laid on the Table during the remainder of the Session?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONThere are Papers in preparation, and they will be laid on the Table before the close of the Session.
§ MR. ONSLOWsaid, he had understood from the noble Marquess that there would be no objection to produce the Return. He had given Notice last week in order that the noble Marquess might telegraph to the Government of India in case of necessity; and the House had agreed to the Return. He should be sorry to do anything that could not be done regularly.
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONSir, the matter is one that could hardly be disposed of satisfactorily by telegraph. If the hon. Member would like to have a Return of the sum of money and the arms given to the present Ameer, there will be no objection to its production.
§ MR. SPEAKERsaid, that the Motion for the Return had been put from the Chair and agreed to on the understanding that it was an unopposed Return. Being now opposed by the noble Mar- 610 quess, it must be cancelled by his (Mr. Speaker's) authority.
§ MR. ONSLOWexplained that, if he had not understood that it was an unopposed Return, he would not have moved for it as he had done.
§ Address cancelled.