§ Mr. DILLONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now state the terms on which the Russian and British Governments offered a loan to the Government of Persia; and whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the correspondence which has passed on this subject?
Mr. McKINNON WOODAs the Persian Government have refused to accept the conditions on which the British and Russian Governments were willing to advance to them a sum of money, and as, therefore, the incident is closed, I do not propose to lay Papers on the subject.
§ Mr. DILLONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these conditions are discussed publicly in Berlin and St. Petersburg? Why should knowledge of them be denied to the British House of Commons?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe incident has led to no action, and I am prepared to consider whether it is desirable to lay Papers.
§ Mr. DILLONAs the incident is closed, does the British Government propose to prevent the Persian Government from obtaining the loan from other sources?
§ Mr. REESIs it not the enforcement of publicity on the Foreign Office which leads to these negotiations coming to nothing?