MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether His Majesty's Government have been or are in communication with the Governments of Russia and Persia with a view of establishing a definite amicable understanding as to the action and influence of Great Britain and Russia in Persia; whether any analogous communications have taken place with the Russian Government relative to Afghanistan; and whether Papers relative to either of these two subjects can be laid upon the Table of the House.
§ LORD CRANBORNEIt would, in the opinion of His Majesty's Government, be most desirable that there should be an amicable understanding between Great Britain and Russia in regard to their respective interests in Persia and elsewhere. Questions involving those interests have lately been under discussion between the two Governments. There are no Papers which can be laid before the House.