HC Deb 28 February 1881 vol 258 c1860
BARON HENRY DE WORMS

asked the Secretary of State for India, Whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the original, either in Russian, Persian, or Pushtoo, of the Despatch published among the papers found at Cabul, in which occurs the word which Prince Lobanoff stated to Lord Granville should have been translated as "friendship" instead of "alliance;" and, whether any information has been received from the Government of India as to the advance of Russia upon Merv or Herat; and, if so, whether he will lay such information upon the Table of the House?

THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTON

I am not quite certain that it would add very much to the information of the House if I were in a position to lay these documents on the Table either in Russian, Persian, or Push too. As I have already stated, in reply to a Question, the original documents are in India, and were translated by competent persons. I will make inquiries as to that translation, though the point mentioned by the hon. Member does not appear to me to be one of very great importance. With regard to the second part of the hon. Member's Question, I can only say that I have no information to give but that which I have already communicated to the House.