§ MR. SCHWANN (Manchester, N.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, can he state what has been done during recent years to improve and extend the River Karun navigation by means of a canal to pass the Ahwaz Rapids, or in other ways to increase facilities for water-borne traffic between the Gulf and the fertile districts of Western Persia; and has His Majesty's representative at Teheran tried to induce His Imperial Majesty the Shah to co-operate in this public work and thus facilitate commerce in that portion of his dominions.
§ LORD CRANBORNEHis Majesty's Government are not aware that the construction of a canal at Ahwaz is contemplated. His Majesty's representative at Teheran, however, reported at the end of last year that the Persian Government were sending an engineer to the Karun to study the best means of improving the navigation. I need hardly say that subject to proper conditions, any proposal intended to give increased facilities to commerce in Southern Persia will have the support of His Majesty's Legation.