§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked the Under Secretary of State for Fo- 1644 reign Affairs, If he can inform the House as to whether or not Russian troops are now at Merv?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKENo, Sir; we have no reason to suppose that there are any Russian troops at Merv.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTWill the hon. Baronet telegraph? ["No, no!"] I beg pardon; I am asking a reasonable Question. I have had information which leads me to suppose that they are; and I ask the hon. Baronet, whether he will give the country satisfaction by sending a special telegram to Teheran and Meshed to know whether there is any truth in the statement?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKEWe have an official Representative at Meshed, with whom we are in constant communication whenever there is anything to report. We have received no such information from him.