EARL of RONALDSHAYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can give the House any information as to a railway scheme recently described by the Turkish Finance Minister in the Turkish Chamber of Deputies as the Constantinople to Basra Chester scheme; if the scheme is a British scheme, involving a concession for the construction of the line to a British syndicate; and if the scheme has the approval and support of the British Foreign Office?
§ Sir E. GREYI have received reports from His Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople on the subject of Mr. Chester's scheme for building railways in Asiatic Turkey, and I understand that it is proposed to build a line from the Gulf of Alexandretta through Diarbekir in the direction of Lake Van, with a branch to the south-east in the direction of Sulimanieh. I have not yet heard whether the concession has been granted by the Turkish Government. Mr. Chester is a United States citizen, and I have received 528 no information to the effect that a British syndicate is interested in his scheme. There has therefore been no question of giving the proposal the official approval or support of His Majesty's Government.
EARL of RONALDSHAYWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether this concession or this application for a concession includes a scheme for railways to Bagdad and Basra from the coast of the Mediterranean—that portion mentioned by the Turkish Finance Minister?
§ Sir E. GREYI would ask for notice of that question. I have given all the information in my possession.