§ MR. JAMES O'KELLYI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether the Bagdad Railway Concession has been finally granted by the Turkish Government; and whether any exchange of views has taken place between His Majesty's Government and the German Government as to the selection of a terminus on the Persian Gulf.
§ * LORD CRANBORNEAs I stated on Tuesday, His Majesty's Government have no reason to doubt the correctness of the announcement in the Press that the Sultan has sanctioned the grant of the Concession. His Majesty's Government have intimated to that of Germany that they are in no way opposed to the scheme in which it is probable that British capitalists will wish to take a considerable share. There has already been some discussion of the point referred to in the second part of the question between the two Governments, and no decision with regards to it will be come to without a further exchange of views.
MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)Will the intimation to which the noble Lord has referred be laid on the Table of the House?
§ * LORD CRANBORNEI will consider it.