§ Mr. DILLONasked the Foreign Secretary when he would lay upon the Table the further Papers on the affairs of Persia promised by Lord Morley; and up to what date these Papers would come?
§ Sir E. GREYI hope to lay the further Papers on the affairs of Persia within a week or ten days: they will include correspondence up to the end of 1910.
EARL of RONALDSHAYWill the right hon. Gentleman's answer also apply to the Papers in regard to the Baghdad Railway.
§ Sir E. GREYThose Papers are not included in the Persian Papers. It did not occur to me that the inclusion of them would arise on this question. I will make inquiry. I have no doubt they will be prepared.
§ Mr. DILLONasked whether the British Government has applied for a concession for a railway in Southern Persia; and whether the Foreign Secretary will lay upon the Table the terms of the application made by the British Government, and the reply of the Persian Government?
§ Sir E. GREYHis Majesty's Government have applied to the Persian Government for an option to construct a railway in south-western Persia with British capital; but I am not in a position, in the present stage of the negotiations, to make any statement regarding the terms of the application or the nature of the reply.
EARL of RONALDSHAYasked if the British Government have applied to the Persian Government for a railway concession in the Karun Valley; and, if so, has the Foreign Secretary any information which he can give the House with regard to the matter?
§ Sir E. GREYI beg to refer the Noble-Earl to the reply just returned to the question asked on this subject by the hon. Member for East Mayo.
EARL of RONALDSHAYMay I ask whether the application for the concession was on behalf of a syndicate?
§ Sir E. GREYThe request was for an option for a railway that is being constructed with British capital.