§ MR. MACLEAN (Cardiff)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the attention of Her Majesty's Government has been called to the action of Russia and Germany in constructing railways across the Asiatic Continent, and especially to the concession made by the Sultan of Turkey for a German line as far as the seaport of Bussorah in the Persian Gulf, and to the consolidation of the commercial and financial authority of Russia in Northern Persia; and what steps the Foreign Office is taking to maintain British interests in that part of the world, and to prevent the control of railways up to the Indian frontier from falling into the hands of foreign Powers.
§ * MR. BRODRICKHer Majesty's Government are aware of the concession given by the Sultan of Turkey for a German line to the seaport of Bussorah, and of the progress of Russian railways 1368 in Asia. If and when British interests are affected Her Majesty's Government will take whatever steps are necessary to maintain them.