§ Sir GEORGE DOUGHTY (for Major Anstruther-Gray)asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any guarantee that the Russian troops sent to reinforce the garrisons of the consulates of Persian towns will be withdrawn as soon as the state of the country admits of it?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir Edward Grey)Resht is the only Persian town where the Russian Consular Guard has been increased, and I have already stated the purpose for which the increase has been effected. There is no reason to suppose that the reinforcement will remain longer than is required by local conditions, and that matter, in view of what I have stated with regard to the special circumstances at Resht, is one for the Russian Government to decide.