§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEI wish to ask the Prime Minister, Whether Her Majesty's Government have any further communication to make to the House in regard to the state of affairs on the Afghan Frontier?
MR. GLADSTONEMy reply will be very brief, taking up the matter where I left it yesterday, when I said that we had made references to St. Petersburg, with a view to obtaining explanations of the facts and whatever else might follow from the Russian Government, but that there had not been time to receive any reply. The reply was received in the course of yesterday evening, and was to the effect, as might not unnaturally be expected, that the Russian Government had already called on General Komaroff to give explanations of his conduct. The use of the word "already" may be subject to a certain ambiguity; but I am inclined to construe it as meaning that he had been called upon to give 1309 explanations before Sir Edward Thornton entered into communication with M. de Giers. M. de Giers at the same time repeated his statement that the Russian troops did not occupy Penjdeh, but retired to their former positions.
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTECan the right hon. Gentleman say how long it will probably take for the Russian Government to receive explanations from General Komaroff? It must take a considerable time.
MR. GLADSTONEI do not think we are in possession of precise information on that point. We are instructed by a British officer that from the point to which he supposes the Russian telegraph to have reached would be 120 miles; and he estimates that two days' express travelling would effect communication with General Komaroff one way.
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEMay I ask whether there has been any communication between Her Majesty's Government and the Viceroy of India; and is the Prime Minister aware whether there has been any communication between the Viceroy and the Ameer on this subject?
MR. GLADSTONEIt was stated yesterday that the first news had reached Rawul Pindi, where the Viceroy was; but I have not learnt that there has been any communication yet from the Viceroy on the subject, and, therefore, I am not in a position to answer the Question.
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEI shall put the Question on Monday.
§ MR. O'KELLYasked, whether, when the Afghan troops passed the River Khushk, they did not place themselves between the main body of the Russian troops and the advanced post of the Russians at Pul-i-Khisti?
§ SIR GEORGE CAMPBELLasked if the Government had any more precise information as to what was the former position of the Russian Forces to which they were now said, according to one account, to have retired?
MR. GLADSTONEI think we have given to the House all the information we possess. I feel with my hon. Friend that it is in the first place incomplete, and, in the second place, not perfectly clear in some parts; but we have taken 1310 steps to obtain more consecutive and complete information.
§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEHas there been any more recent communication from Sir Peter Lumsden?