§ Mr. PONSONBYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the Persian Cossacks despatched to Kherraj against the revolutionaries are under the command of a Russian officer; and whether that officer is in the Shah's service or in the service of the Russian Government?
§ Sir E. GREYThe Russian Chargé d'Affaires at Teheran informed His Majesty's Minister there on the 8th instant that the Russian officer was returning to Teheran that day.
§ Mr. PONSONBYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has any official information to the effect that it is the intention of the Russian Government to despatch troops to guard the Teheran Caspian road against the revolutionaries?
§ Sir E. GREYIt is understood that, should the traffic on this road, which forms an important Russian concession, be interrupted through the action of either political party in Persia, the Russian Government would feel themselves compelled to take some action with a view to keeping open the main route of communication between Europe and Teheran, and thus guarding the pecuniary interests of Russian subjects. Such a situation has, however, not yet arisen.
Dr. RUTHERFORDasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any official information that Cossacks, commanded by Captain Sapolski, a Russian officer, have been despatched to Kherraj to oppose the constitutional forces; and, if so, whether he proposes to make any representations to the Russian Government?
§ Sir E. GREYI have to refer the hon. Member to my reply to-day to the hon. Member for the Stirling Burghs.