MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government are aware that a Commission of engineers has been sent out from Pairs to survey southern Persia for railways and other public works; whether that commission has been established and sent out in connection with the negotiations between Russia and Persia for the construction of railways in southern Persia; and what steps have been taken by His Majesty's Government to secure the interests of British trade in Persia and the position of this country in the Persian Gulf.
§ LORD CRANBORNEHis Majesty's Government have seen the Report which has appeared in the Press to the effect stated in the first portion of the Question. A communication from the Persian Minister at Pairs has, however, appeared in the Matin of the 26th of November, stating that he is authorised to deny the Report.
§ LORD CRANBORNEThe security of the interests of this country in the Persian Gulf has always been a matter of the utmost concern to His Majesty's Government.