§ MR. LEIF JONES (Westmoreland, Appleby)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can inform the House what are the terms of the treaty which has been concluded with the Mullah.
§ EARL PERCYNo, Sir; I understand that the Colonial Office has not yet received a reply from General Swayne.
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTON (Tower Hamlets, Poplar)When does the noble Lord expect to get a reply? It is more than a month since the arrangement was made.
§ EARL PERCYI am afraid at the present moment the only explanation I can give of the delay is that General Swayne is engaged in an expedition into the interior. In any case some time must elapse before a telegram can reach us.
§ * SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean)Has the noble Lord seen what purports to be the agreement between the Mullah and Italy, which has been published in Italy?
§ EARL PERCYI have seen the terms of the Italian treaty with the Mullah, but we are not aware whether the terms of the English treaty are the same.