§ Colonel YATEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the total amount of British and Indian claims now outstanding against Persia; and what steps are being taken to secure their adjustment?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE-for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Acland)The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, who usually answers these questions on Thursdays, asks that you will excuse him to-day in consequence of his being engaged in connection with the coal strike. The total amount of British and Indian claims against the Persian Government is, so far as I am aware, about £75,000. The detailed claims are, however, filed at His Majesty's Legation at Teheran. In the event of any considerable loan being raised by the Persian Government, which would include in its objects the payment of their creditors, His Majesty's Government will press for the payment of British claims.
§ Colonel YATEasked what is the gross value of the whole of the British and Indian trade involved in connection with the trade routes of Southern Persia; and what it was four years ago?
§ Mr. ACLANDThe figures which are not quite complete are very detailed, and I will therefore send them to the hon. and gallant Member separately; but the rough totals of the available figures of imports and exports together, from Great Britain and India, are for 1907–8, £1,920,000, and for 1910–11, £1,860,000.
§ Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALDasked whether the Secretary for Foreign Affairs will communicate to the House at once the text of the communication made to the Persian Government on behalf of His Majesty's Government based on the instructions given to our representative at Teheran on the 7th of September last, for the purpose of explaining the Anglo-Russian Agreement, and also the text of the acceptance by the Persian Government of the terms of this communication?
§ Mr. ACLANDIt was considered unnecessary to lay the communication, because it was in identic terms with the instructions which are given on page 48 of the first Persian Blue Book of 1909, except for two slight alterations which are of no importance. The Paper can, however, be laid if desired. No answer was returned to it by the Persian Government.
§ Mr. MORRELLCan the right hon. Gentleman say when this dispatch or Memorandum was communicated?
§ Mr. ACLANDImmediately after the instructions had been given to our representative.
§ Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALDWere we not informed that the Persian Government had accepted this communication?
§ Mr. ACLANDThe fact that they accepted it and made no comment was taken as acceptance.
§ Mr. MORRELLHow long is the Persian Government required to treat this as a confidential communication?
§ Mr. ACLANDI must ask for notice of that question.
§ Mr. PONSONBYasked whether there are at present any Russian officers in the Persian Regular Army, excluding the brigade of Persian Cossacks; can the Under-Secretary state the number of Russian officers at present serving with the Persian Cossack Brigade; and what is the number of foreign officers serving in the Persian Regular Army, exclusive of the Persian Cossack Brigade, before the conclusion of the Anglo-Russian Convention and also at the present date?
§ Mr. ACLANDAccording to the latest information in my possession, there are no Russian officers in the Regular Army. The number of Russian officers with the Persian Cossack Brigade is five. I am unable to state how many foreign officers were employed before the conclusion of the Anglo-Russian Convention, and I have no information that there are such officers serving with the Regular Army at present.
§ Mr. FLETCHERasked the date and amount of any advance by way of loan made by the British Government to Persia; whether such advance was made from Indian or from Imperial funds; can the hon. Gentleman give particulars of any similar loans made by Russia to Persia; and can he state the rate of interest both on the British and the Russian advances?
§ Mr. ACLANDIn 1903, His Majesty's Government advanced to the Persian Government, through the Imperial Bank of Persia, the sum of £200,000 at 5 per cent. In September, 1904, a further sum of £100,000 was similarly advanced at the same rate. In both cases the money was paid from Indian funds, but His Majesty's Government agreed to share with the Government of India in equal moieties any loss through failure of the Persian Government to meet their obligations as regards repayment. In 1900, the Russian Bank made a loan to the Persian Government of 22,500,000 roubles (about £2,500,000) at 5 per cent.; and in April, 1902, a further loan of 10,000,000 roubles (£1,000,000) at 5 per cent. was made from the same source. There may also have been smaller amounts advanced by the Russian Bank on other occasions.
§ Mr. PONSONBYasked whether any representatives of British commercial interests in Persia have made representations protesting against the appointment of M. Mornard as Treasurer-General for Persia; and, if so, whether, before the acquiescence of His Majesty's Government in the permanent appointment of M. Mornard to that post was given, its effect on British interests was considered?
§ Mr. ACLANDThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; as regards the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to the speech made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on the 21st inst., when he stated that reports from His Majesty's Minister at Teheran are favourable to M. Mornard, and that his appointment at present is temporary.
§ Mr. MORRELLIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the Persian Government protested against the appointment of M. Mornard?
§ Mr. ACLANDI must have notice of that question.