HC Deb 27 November 1911 vol 32 cc1-2
EARL of RONALDSHAY

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many Swedish officers have been engaged by the Persian Government to raise and officer her gendarmerie; how many of these officers are already in Persia; and what is the numerical strength of the gendarmerie under their command?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Acland)

Ten officers have been engaged, of whom three are already in Persia. So far as my information goes there are not so far more than 350 gendarmes available; but I understand that it is intended to bring the numbers of the force up to 12,000 or 15,000 in the course of the next eighteen months or so.