DR. RUTHERFORD (Middlesex, Brentford)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Shah of Persia has republished the proclamation abolishing the constitution and refusing a Parliament, which was withdrawn upon the representations of Russia and Great Britain; and whether he can say what steps those Powers propose taking to restore the constitution.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir EDWARD GREY,) Northumberland, BerwickOn 2nd December the Shah sent a message to His Majesty's Minister to the effect that the placarding of the document in question had been done entirely without his knowledge. He repeated the assurances already given, that he was resolved to keep the promise given in his Decree of 2nd October, and convoke a Medjliss suited to the needs of the country and in accordance with Mahomedan law.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYNo, I cannot.
§ MR. DILLON (Mayo, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that a deputation of the new council of state in Teheran on 30th November interviewed the Shah in company with the dragoman of the Russian and British Consulates; and whether he can give the House any information on this incident.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYI have not received any information confirming this statement.