HC Deb 08 May 1884 vol 287 c1688
MR. BOURKE

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he can give the House any information with respect to Sarakhs?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

I presume that this Question is prompted by a report, in The Times of the 6th instant, that Sarakhs has been acquired by Russia. Her Majesty's Government have no information in confirmation of this report. Sarakhs is a Persian fortress, garrisoned by Persian soldiers; and if the right hon. Gentleman will refer to the Blue Book "Asia," No. 1 of this year, page 92, he will see that as late as September last Her Majesty's Chargé d' Affaires at St. Petersburg was informed at the Russian Foreign Office that it would always be outside of any Russian line of frontier. I may remind the right hon. Gentleman, without, I hope, entering into matter of debate, that there are two places of the name of Sarakhs, Old and New Sarakhs, and that in the telegram referred to there may be some confusion between them.

MR. BOURKE

Are they not both on Persian territory?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

One is on one bank of the river; the other is not on the same, but on the opposite bank.

MR. BOURKE

But they are both Persian.

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

The one to which I have referred is undoubtedly Persian. Its position is quite clear; but the position of the other is not quite so clear.

LORD JOHN MANNERS

Will inquiry be made at Teheran?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

Yes; inquiry will be made.