HC Deb 24 March 1885 vol 296 cc382-3
MR. M'COAN

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether there is any, and, if so, what, truth in the following paragraph in The Daily Telegraph of yesterday:— The Central News is enabled to state that Her Majesty's Government have received information that the Russians have endeavoured to create an outbreak in Penjdeh, the assumption being that Russia would immediately use this pretext for interfering and seizing the place. The British authorities have certain knowledge of a letter sent by the Russian Officer Ali-khanoff, instigating the Sarikhs of Penjdeh to rise. It is not known whether the Government of St. Petersburg has disavowed this act on the part of its officer, but, as the English Government were aware of this Russian intrigue previously to Mr. Gladstone making his recent reassuring announcement in the House of Commons, it is believed that M. de Giers has made such a disavowal?

MR. ONSLOW

asked, Whether it was not within the knowledge of Her Majesty's Government that General Alikhanoff had on the occasion of the late advance attempted to get into Penjdeh by a coup de main, but that the Afghans turned out in considerable force, and the Russians retired?

LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICE

In reply to the Question of the hon. Member for Wicklow (Mr. M'Coan), that of the hon. Member opposite (Mr. Onslow), and that of which the hon. Member for Eye (Mr. Ashmead-Bartlett) gave Notice yesterday, but has not put on the Paper, I can only repeat what I have stated more than once in this House—that in the present stage of the negotiations it would be inexpedient to reply to Questions of this nature, more especially when they are founded upon newspaper reports. I may add that I am not aware that The Daily News, as stated yesterday by the hon. Member for Eye, has published a report to the effect that Her Majesty's Government are prepared to assent to the Russian occupation of Penjdeh.

MR. ONSLOW

I beg to point out to the noble Lord that the Prime Minister asked us to put Questions with regard to the matters of fact. The Question which I have put is no controversial matter, but is purely a matter of fact, and has reference to whether a certain fact is not within the knowledge of the Government. If the noble Lord cannot answer it now, I will put it down for next Thursday.

MR. M'COAN

I wish to ask whether information was not received by telegraph from Sir Peter Lumsden early this month, advising Her Majesty's Government of Russian intrigues going on in Penjdeh; if so, whether that communication will be laid upon the Table of the House?

[No reply.]