§ 1. Colonel YATEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, considering that it is stated that the Swedish gendarmerie in Persia are now being disbanded and that all hope of securing safe roads through the activity of the gendarmerie is now abandoned, His Majesty's Government will consider the advisability of effecting an arrangement with the Persian Government for the enlistment of Persian levies under British officers at Ispahan, Shiraz, and other places in Southern Persia, with the view of strengthening the Persian Government and enabling them to re-establish order and to secure the safety of the roads and telegraph lines, and thus eventually to permit of the withdrawal of the British troops now employed there?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir E. Grey)I have received no official information whatever to the effect that the Swedish-officered gendarmerie is being disbanded.
§ Colonel YATEWill the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration the second part of my question, the raising of Persian levies under British officers in Southern Persia?
§ Sir E. GREYI understood the second part of the question to be framed on the supposition of the complete breakdown of the official gendarmerie which it has been attempted to establish under Swedish officers. While I hope that it will not break down, if it does, of course, other expedients will be considered.
§ 2. Colonel YATEasked whether the committee that was said to have been sitting at the Persian Foreign Office in Teheran to consider the British application for a concession to construct the proposed Mohammerah - Khorramabad Railway has yet reported; and what prospects there are of an early start being made on this railway?
§ Sir E. GREYNegotiations on the subject of a British application for a concession for the Mohammerah-Khorramabad Railway project are still in progress. I am unaware whether the report indicated by the hon. and gallant Member has been yet made, nor can I at present predict the date when construction is likely to begin.