§ Mr. STANIERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he could give any information to the House regarding the attack made on the recent British Acting Consul (Mr. Bill) at Shiraz while he was proceeding to Isfahan about the 15th instant?
Mr. McKINNON WOODHis Majesty's Minister at Tehran reported on April 17th that on April 15th Mr. Bill was attacked by robbers between Kumishe and Abade, and that two Indian sowars were killed. Sir George Barclay at once demanded from the Persian Government the despatch of a sufficient number of Bakhtiari from Kumishe to meet Mr. Bill, and insisted on reparation and the punishment of the culprits, who are believed to belong to the Kuhgelui tribe. Sir George Barclay, with the cognisance of the Persian Minister of the Interior, instructed His Majesty's Consul-General at Isfahan to proceed to meet Mr. Bill with the available Isfahan escort. The Minister of the Interior sent most stringent orders for the immediate despatch of all available Bakhtiaris from Kumishe to join Mr. Bill wherever he might be. On April 17th Mr. Bill arrived at Kumishe.
§ Mr. STANIERWas Mr. Bill travelling under the Government's orders?
Mr. McKINNON WOODYes. He had with him some Indian soldiers who had been the escort of our Acting Consul.
§ Mr. REESIs the hon. Gentleman aware that in pre-Parliamentary days in Persia this road was as safe as Pall Mall and Piccadilly?