HC Deb 09 November 1911 vol 30 cc1794-5
Mr. MORRELL

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he had received information showing that officials in the employment of the Persian Treasury were recently arrested, flogged, and imprisoned by a superior force of Russian Cossacks, led by two Russian consular officers in full uniform, while the Persian officials were endeavouring to collect taxes from a Persian subject; and, if so, whether His Majesty's Government, as signatory to the Anglo-Russian Convention safeguarding the independence of Persia, had addressed any remonstrance to the Russian Government on the subject?

Sir E. GREY

I have not received any such information.

Mr. MORRELL

If I forward to the right hon. Gentleman a letter from Mr. Schuster will he inquire?

Sir E. GREY

I am quite ready to receive any information the hon. Member has.

Mr. MORRELL

asked the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that the Russian Consul at Astrabad in Persia is openly supporting the ex-Shah, and is distributing Russian flags amongst inhabitants of Astrabad suspected of disloyalty to the Government, for the purpose of hoisting on their houses as a sign of Russian protection; and whether he will make representations to the Russian Government on the subject?

Sir E. GREY

I am aware that the Persian Government have made a general complaint of the action of the Russian Consul at Astrabad. I have heard nothing of the distribution of flags. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

Mr. PONSONBY

asked whether the Russian Government have threatened the Persian Government with the military occupation of certain provinces; and, if so, can he state the circumstances in which this threat has been issued?

Mr. DILLON

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman's attention has been drawn to the action of the Russian Government in threatening to occupy the province of Gilam and the district of Talesh if an immediate apology was not made by the Persian Government for an alleged insult to two Russian Consular officers during the seizure of Shun-es-Sultaneh's property; and whether the British Government will draw the attention of the Russian Government to the inconsistency of such action with the terms of the Anglo-Russian Agreement, in which England and Russia agreed to respect and maintain the integrity and independence of Persia?

Sir E. GREY

There is no truth in the statement which has recently appeared in the Press that the Russian Government have threatened the Persian Government with the occupation of the provinces of Ghilan and Mazanderan.

Mr. PONSONBY

Can the right hon. Gentleman approximately state the number of Russian troops now in Persian territory?

Sir E. GREY

I cannot repeat it from memory, but I gave, I think, one day this week the actual figures.