§ MR. BOWLES (Lambeth, Norwood)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the frontier line between Persia and Turkey, extending some 700 miles from Mount Ararat to the head of the Persian Gulf and between twenty and forty miles in breadth, which was the subject of an understanding between England and Russia in 1865, and as to which an identic map was delivered by England and Russia to the Governments of Persia and Turkey, has yet been settled; whether, since 1865, any further steps have been taken to mark the frontier line within that region; and whether His Majesty's Government consider that the time has now arrived when representations might properly be made to the two Governments concerned with a view to a final settlement of the question.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir EDWARD GREY, Northumberland, Berwick)The Answer to the first Question is in the negative. The Answer to the second Question is in the affirmative, and I have 128 to refer the hon. Member to Article 60 of the Treaty of Berlin, and to the Convention between Turkey and Persia signed at Constantinople on August 3rd, 1869 (see Hertslet's Persian Treaties, 1891). Since 1869 and 1870, when maps of the frontier zone, twenty to fifty miles broad, were communicated to the Ottoman and Persian Governments respectively, several attempts have been made to reach an agreement in regard to the whole frontier, and a Commission of British, Russian,. Turkish and Persian delegates discussed the subject in 1875–1876, but no final arrangement has been reached. A Turco-Persian Commission is shortly to meet to endeavour to arrive at an agreement in regard to the districts of Vazné and Lahidjan. It is already known that His Majesty's Government, in concert with the Russian Government, would be willing to facilitate the progress of the negotiations, if it was necessary and desired by those who are interested.
§ MR. BOWLESinquired if there was any objection to placing in the Library a copy of the map and any correspondence necessary to elucidate it?
§ SIR EDWARD GREYsuggested that, the hon. Member should confer with him privately.