HC Deb 03 December 1912 vol 44 cc2069-70
2. Mr. MORRELL

asked whether any negotiations for the advance of an adequate loan to the Persian Government so as to enable it to restore order are still proceeding; and, if so, whether any proposal has been made that concessions should be given for a Trans-Persian Railway to India as part of the terms of such a loan?

Sir E. GREY

The question of how the Persian Government is to get money remains under consideration. I cannot say on what conditions it may eventually be obtained. In any case the making of a Trans-Persian Railway would be subject to the arrangement of conditions already explained, whether it were connected with a loan or not.

Mr. MORRELL

May we take it that there is no change of attitude on the part of the Government as regards the Trans-Persian Railway?

Sir E. GREY

There is no change with regard to the making of a Trans-Persian Railway which was explained to the House earlier in the year.

3. Mr. MORRELL

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he can indicate the grounds on which His Majesty's Minister at Teheran was instructed to encourage the recall to Persia of the exiled Saad-ed-Dowleh, who was formerly one of the principal Ministers of the ex-Shah and has recently declared that he is still a strong partisan of that prince; and whether the declarations of His Majesty's Government that they will not, under any circumstances, recognise the ex-Shah still hold good?

Sir E. GREY

I gave the ground in reply to a previous question on which the return of Saad-ed-Dowleh to Persia was desired. I am informed that it is not true that he has recently declared himself a partisan of the ex-Shah. He has not always been on good terms with the ex-Shah. The attitude of His Majesty's Government as regards the ex-Shah has not changed.

Mr. MORRELL

Is there any truth in the rumour that the Regency has actually been offered to this Saad-ed-Dowleh by the British or Russian Government?

Sir E. GREY

No; there is no truth in the rumour that the Regency has been offered by the British or Russian Government, because the Regency of Persia is not theirs to offer.