HC Deb 11 November 1882 vol 274 cc1643-4
MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT

asked the Under Secretary of State for Fo- reign Affairs, If he can inform the House as to whether or not Russian troops are now at Merv?

SIR CHARLES W. DILKE

No, Sir; we have no reason to suppose that there are any Russian troops at Merv.

MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT

Will 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. DILKE

We 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.