§ DR. TANNERI beg to ask the Secretary of State for India if the question of opening up the trade route from Quetta to Sistan is being promoted; and whether, since the arrangement of the Baluch-Afghan boundary in 1897, serious attention has been directed to this question; whether any obstacle has been experienced from Persia in furtherance of a satisfactory arrangement about this route, and whether no more money is to be spent as alleged on the completion of the route; and how many medical officers have been employed in connection therewith for the past two years?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIAThe answer to the Question in the first paragraph of the honourable Member's inquiry is in the affirmative. The Persian Government has interposed no difficulties in the way of developing the trade route, and the Secretary of State has for the current year retained the postal sowars who were employed while Surgeon-Major Brazier Creagh was on duty, and it has sanctioned the engagement of additional levies, and small grants for tours and petty works. I presume that the honourable Member refers in the last paragraph to the employment of Surgeon-Major Brazier Creagh, whose duties were political rather than medical. Since his return no other medical officer has been employed in connection with the route.
§ DR. TANNERIs the noble Lord aware that on the alternative Russian route there are no fewer than 47 medical officers employed?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIAI should doubt if that is any recommendation.