HC Deb 26 March 1885 vol 296 cc675-6
MR. ONSLOW

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether it is the fact that General Alikhanoff, at the time when the Russian advance on Zulfica and Pul-i-khatun was made, attempted also to get into Penjdeh by a coup de main, but the Afghans turned out in considerable force, and the Russians retired?

MR. GLADSTONE

I am not aware of what can have induced the hon. Member to put this Question on the Paper, or of the reason he has for supposing that, as the Question seems to imply, General Alikhanoff has advanced and attempted to get into Penjdeh. I presume he has some ground for putting such a Question; but if he has any such ground we have no such information. The facts as reported to us are these. It is not the truth that General Alikhanoff attempted to get into Penjdeh by a coup de main. The nearest point to Penjdeh to which he has advanced is a point at the junction of the Khushk and Murghab rivers, about eight miles, as I understand, from Penjdeh; and at that point, eight miles from Penjdeh, he has established a post of Turcomans and Cossacks.

MR. ONSLOW

I would ask the Prime Minister whether he does not consider that the Russians, having advanced to within eight miles of Penjdeh, that it is a case in which they are threatening and have threatened Penjdeh; and that if it had not been for the advance of the Afghans the Russians would have been at Penjdeh at the present time? I would also ask whether the Government intend making a statement on the subject?

MR. GLADSTONE

The Question originally put by the hon. Member is whether General Alikhanoff attempted to get into Penjdeh by a coup de main. I cannot say that the advance of a Russian post to within eight miles of Penjdeh corresponds at all with the implication in that Question. Whether this advance may imply a threat upon Penjdeh or not is a Question that it would require more minute knowledge of the locale than I possess to answer, especially without Notice. I know that on Monday there will be a Question put to me, but as to the answer I shall be able to give to that Question I am not at present in a position to say; but I have no reason to suppose that there is any intention on the part of the Government to make a statement as to the relations between England and Russia in regard to Afghanistan.