§ MR. DRAGE (Derby)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any information has reached the Foreign Office with regard to the railway which the Russian Government has authorised a Russian syndicate to construct from Alexandropol, in Russian territory, to Julfa, on the frontier of North Persia; whether his line is to be continued via Tabriz, Teheran, and Ispahan to the Persian Gulf; whether the Russian Government has promised a subvention for the line as far as Tabriz; and whether, in virtue of that subvention, the Russian Government will acquire any rights with regard to the railway in Persian territory?
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. ST. JOHN BRODRICK,) Surrey, GuildfordHer 1127 Majesty's Government understands that a railway has been authorised on Russian territory, but they have no knowledge of any subvention being given, or of any arrangements being made to extend the line as suggested.