DR. RUTHERFORDI beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Shah of Persia promised England and Russia to summon Parliament when order was restored in Azerbaijan; whether order has been restored in that province by the Parliamentarians; and whether the Shah has failed to fulfil his pledge on the advice and support of his Russian officers.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYThe Answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. With regard to the situation in Azerbaijan, His Majesty's Acting Consul-General reported on 28th October that the town of Tabriz was perfectly quiet and the bazaar open, but that the Julfa road was still exposed to disorders. With reference to the last inquiry in the 973 Question, I am not aware that the Russian officers in the service of the Shah have acted as alleged; but the Russian Government have throughout acted in cordial co-operation with us in advising the Shah to summon a Parliament.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYThat is dealt with in the Answer to another Question.
§ MR. G. GOOCH (Bath)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British and Russian Governments have renewed their advice to the Shah of Persia to summon a freely-elected Parliament; and, if not, when they intend to do so.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYThe British and Russian representatives at Teheran renewed identic representations on 14th October in the sense mentioned.
§ *MR. REESIs it not the fact that the Russian officers in the service of Persia have been highly instrumental in preserving order and so have assisted materially both Powers which are parties to the Convention?
§ SIR EDWARD GREYThat is dealt with in a separate Question also.
§ MR. LYNCH (Yorkshire, W.R., Ripon)May I ask if the advice given to the Persian Government by the Russian and British Governments has been to summon a freely-elected Parliament?
§ SIR EDWARD GREYThe general object has been to secure the carrying out of promises made in that direction.