HC Deb 21 February 1881 vol 258 c1389
MR. O'DONNELL

asked the Secretary of State for India, Whether, in March or April l880, information was conveyed to the Political Officer at Candahar of the exact state of Ayoub Khan's regular forces; and, whether that information was supplied to the Government of India and the India Office; if so, why action was not taken to strengthen General Primrose's force; and, if not, why the information was not sent to Simla or Calcutta?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

I do not think that any exact information as to the state of Ayoub Khan's regular forces was conveyed to the Political Officer at Candahar during March or April, 1880. All the information we had as to the condition of affairs at Herat from January to Ma}', 1880, will be found in the Government of India Despatch No. 185. of the 17th of August, 1880, which is published with the other Afghan Papers.