EARL of RONALDSHAYasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that in April, 1903, a detailed answer was given by the Prime Minister on behalf of His Majesty's Government, in reply to a question askng for information as regards the nature of the proposals which had been made to His Majesty's Government on the subject of the Baghdad Railway; will he state whether any proposals or suggestions have recently been made by any foreign Government to His Majesty's Government on the same subject; if so, will he state their nature; and, in view of the political and commercial considerations involved by the construction of this railway, will he give the House an opportunity of discussing any proposals which may be made before they receive the consent of His Majesty's Government, thus following the precedent set in 1903?
The UNDER - SECRETARY for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. McKinnon Wood)The statement in 1903 was apparently made when negotiations were in a very much more advanced stage than is the case with the present negotiations. It would not be desirable to make a statement at present.