§ 7. Mr. GINNELLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can state the personnel of the British and other groups of financiers who undertake the finance, construction, and equipment of the proposed Trans-Persian Railway, their terms of participation, the nature and extent of the British Government support, and the present condition of the negotiations?
§ Sir E. GREYThe "Société d'êtudes," consisting of British, French, and Russian members, who will undertake the preliminary investigation connected with the railway, is not yet definitely constituted, but it is expected that the three groups will shortly be completed, after which a meeting will be held in Paris for the purpose of constituting it. The financing, construction, and equipment of the line will be undertaken by a company or companies to be formed later, and the control of those operations will be equally divided between the representatives of the three Powers concerned. As regards the extent to which His Majesty's Government are supporting the enterprise, I have nothing to add to the reply returned to the Noble Earl the Member for the Hornsey Division of Middlesex on 19th March last.
§ Mr. GINNELLCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether any British syndicate has been registered for this purpose in England?
§ Sir E. GREYI imagine not. If the hon. Member will give notice of the question, I will give him a specific answer.
§ Mr. MORRELLMay I ask whether the negotiations have reached a stage at which they could be conveniently discussed in this House?
§ Sir E. GREYOf course, the question is one that can be discussed at any time, Tout in regard to the negotiations themselves at the present stage at which they are there is really very little to be said, because so little is definite.