§ Mr. DILLONasked the Secretary of State whether he is now in a position to make any statement as to the probable date of the withdrawal of Russian troops from Northern Persia; and whether the Russian troops at Kazvin are now engaged in preparing winter quarters?
§ Sir E. GREYI can add nothing to previous answers. Persia is, I hope, on the way to better things than existed under the late régime; but as long as things are in a transition stage it is difficult to make definite statements as to dates, or as to whether troops will be retained there, and, if so, how many, during the winter.
§ Mr. DILLONHas the right hon. Gentleman any reason to believe that the Russians have the smallest intention of evacuating the country, and is it a fact that the Russian troops are preparing winter quarters at Kazvin?
§ Sir E. GREYNo, Sir. I have no information that they are preparing winter quarters, and, as I said in my answer, it would be impossible to state whether troops would be maintained there during the winter, and, if so, how many. With regard to the first part of the supplementary question, I should have thought that the history of recent events would, even, in his opinion, entitle me to say that the 2301 statements which the Russians themselves have made with regard to their policy we have every reason to believe.