HC Deb 10 March 1881 vol 259 cc722-3
MR. ERRINGTON

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether his attention has been called to the following statement in a recently published work, entitled "Merv and the Man Stealing Turcomans, by Charles Marvin":— By the Secret Treaty of May 31st, 1878, the Czar solemnly bound himself never to extend the Russian frontier in Asia Minor; whether that statement is accurate; and, whether any such Treaty or document affording a guarantee against the advance of Russia in Asia Minor actually exists; and, if so, whether there would now be any objection to lay a Copy of it upon the Table?

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

Sir, the statement quoted is not correct, and the case concerns Her Majesty's late Government, who gave the explanations which seemed to them at the time pos- sible. I have nothing to add; and, indeed, could not add to the statement I made on the 28th of May last with regard to confidential communications between the late Government and the Russian Government without authority from both Parties.