§ Sir CLEMENT KINLOCH-COOKEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he had any information to give the House respecting the new developments in the matter of the Bagdad Railway; what is now the attitude of Great Britain, Russia, and France, respectively, towards the undertaking; whether any negotiations are proceeding between the Foreign Office and Turkey or between the Foreign Office and Germany on the subject; and, if not, whether, in view of the probability of Koweit being selected as the terminus of the line, it would be a convenient time to reconsider the advisability of this Country taking a financial interest in the railway, or to come to some definite settlement with the parties interested as to the control of the section joining Basra and Koweit?
Mr. McKINNON WOODI do not think it would be in the public interest to make any statement in regard to the first three questions of the hon. Member. With regard to the final question, I would point out that His Majesty's Government have never been opposed to British participation in the enterprise, provided it can be arranged upon acceptable terms.