HC Deb 10 August 1911 vol 29 cc1323-6
Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAY

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give any information as to the present state of affairs in Persia?

The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir E. Grey)

If the hon. and gallant Member will give notice of the particular points as to which he desires information, I shall be happy to give what information I can; but an account of the general situation in Persia at this moment would be too long for an oral answer. It was also dealt with in Debate on 27th July, and on the general situation I do not think I have much to add to what was said then.

Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAY

Has the right hon. Gentleman any further news about the doings of the ex-Shah, and are the trade routes open or closed?

Sir E. GREY

The news about the trade routes is, as might be expected from the condition of unrest in Persia, not satisfactory at the present time. With regard to the progress of the ex-Shah the accounts are not very definite, and are somewhat inconclusive.

Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAY

Are all the trade routes closed?

Sir E. GREY

I have not said they are all closed, but the position is not satisfactory.

Mr. PONSONBY

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any official information showing that six Russian naval officers have accompanied the ex-Shah on a Russian steamboat to Persian territory?

Sir E. GREY

The answer is in the negative.

Mr. PONSONBY

Has the right hon. Gentleman had any news with regard to Russian officers accompanying the ex-Shah's troops to Teheran?

Sir E. GREY

I must ask the hon. Member for notice of that.

Mr. PONSONBY

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been directed to the forcible release by the Russian Consul at Tabriz, backed by 300 Russian soldiers of Raschid-ul-Mulk, ex-Governor of Ardabil, who had been imprisoned by the Persian authorities for treason; and whether he considers their action consistent with the declaration of absolute non-intervention in Persian affairs made by the Russian Government?

Sir E. GREY

The incident to which the hon. Member refers has been brought to my notice. Raschid-ul-Mulk was formerly in past at the Russian Consulate, and it is stated that Russian intervention was occasioned by the report that he was to be hanged without trial.

Mr. PONSONBY

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Major Stokes has been appointed to organise the financial gendarmerie at the special request and nomination of Mr. Schuster; and what are the grounds on which objection to this appointment has been taken by the Russian Government?

Sir E. GREY

The appointment in question has been offered to Major Stokes on Mr. Schuster's suggestion. The Russian Government object to the appointment on the ground that it includes the north of Persia, which, by the Anglo-Russian Agreement, comprises the Russian sphere of interest.

Mr. PONSONBY

Is not the appointment of Major Stokes a purely civil appointment?

Sir E. GREY

I understand the appointment is to organise the gendarmerie for financial purposes.

Mr. MORRELL

Is the British Government in any way concerned in the appointment?

Sir E. GREY

Well, at the present moment Major Stokes is—or was till a few days ago—military attaché at Teheran. At the present moment he is an officer in the Army, and we are interested to that extent.

EARL of RONALDSHAY

Is it not a fact that he has sent in his resignation?

Sir E. GREY

I am not quite certain; I rather think he has sent in his resignation, but as a matter of fact his resignation has not yet been accepted.

Mr. DILLON

Is it not a fact that this appointment is entirely non-political and therefore does not come under the terms of the treaty?

Sir E. GREY

There is a further question upon that subject on the Paper, and I will answer it later.

Mr. PONSONBY

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Russian and German Governments have protested against the appointment of Mr. Schuster as controller of the finances of Persia; on what grounds these protests have been made; and whether the British Government will remonstrate with the Government of Russia and support the appointment of Mr. Schuster?

EARL of RONALDSHAY

also asked if a protest has been lodged by the Russian Minister at Teheran against the appointment of Captain Stokes to a post under the. Persian Government; and, if so, can he say on what grounds the protest is based?

Sir E. GREY

The only protest made by the Russian and German Governments to which my attention has been called is against the payment of certain charges on the Persian Revenue by the Treasurer-General instead of by the Administrator-General of Customs. I understand that, in the case of the Russian Government, this protest is based on an article in the Agreement signed last January by the Persian Government with the Russian Bank for the conversion of the former's debts to Russia. I do not know the ground of the German protest. The matter is not one in which His Majesty's Government have any ground for intervention.

EARL of RONALDSHAY

asked whether and if so in what respect the conditions of Captain Stokes' appointment under the Persian Government violate the provisions of the Anglo-Russian Agreement of 1907?

Sir E. GREY

This question covers the question put to me by the hon. Member for East Mayo a while ago. The appointment does not violate the letter of the Agreement; but it may be contended that as regards the northern part of Persia it would be contrary to its spirit. A corresponding view might no doubt have been taken by His Majesty's Government if a Russian officer, on the expiry of his appointment as military attaché in Teheran, had been selected to organise a Gendarmerie in the part of Persia adjoining the Indian frontier.

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