HC Deb 03 December 1908 vol 197 c1671
MR. LYNCH (Yorkshire, W.R., Ripon)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to a statement recently made by the Russian Minister in Teheran to the effect that Colonel Liakhoff had been acting under the orders of the Russian Minister of War, directions being sent to him by the military government of the Caucasus; and whether he is now prepared to modify the Answer given to the hon. Member for the Ripon division, and repeated in effect on subsequent occasions, that this Russian officer in Persian employ was acting independently of the Russian Government.

SIR EDWARD GREY

I have noticed the report in the Press of an alleged interview with the Russian Minister in Teheran; but even if the statements imputed to the latter are authentic I see no reason to modify the reply given to the hon. Member with regard to Colonel Liakhoff's action in the coup d'etat in the summer.