HC Deb 04 May 1885 vol 297 c1506
MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether it is a fact that Her Majesty's Ministers have invited the Russian Government to submit to arbitration the question whether General Komaroff's attack upon the Afghans on 30th March was a breach of the "solemn agreement" of 17th March; whether the Russian Government have accepted this proposal; and, if so, who is to be arbitrator; whether the Russian forces will continue in occupation of the strip of Afghan territory south of the Khoja Saleh—Sarakhs line, which they have seized since the appointment of a joint Boundary Commission by the two Governments; and, how much longer it is expected that the British Commission will have to wait upon the frontier for its Russian colleagues?

MR. GLADSTONE

I am not able to enter upon the points presented by the hon. Member in his Question; but I shall have a short statement to make relative to the subject of the Correspondence with Russia when I am free to do so.

SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE

When does the right hon. Gentleman propose to make that statement—before proceeding to Business, or after?