§ 3. Mr. MORRELLasked whether any proposal has been made for the appointment of a new financial adviser in Persia; and whether any negotiations are still proceeding to enable the Persian Government to obtain an adequate loan?
§ Sir E. GREYDuring the recent visit of Monsieur Sazenow to this country the need of the Persian Government for securing an adequate loan was fully recognised. The matter is still under careful consideration. The question of a new financial adviser was-not specifically raised, but it was recognised that, if financiers made stipulations as to strong Treasury control a condition of lending money, the Persian Government would have to take them into consideration.
§ Mr. MORRELLIs my right hon. Friend aware that the Swedish gendarmerie are actually being disbanded for want of funds?
§ Sir E. GREYNo, Sir, I do not think we have that information, but if the hon. Member will put a question on the Paper I will inquire.
§ 4. Mr. MORRELLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the difficulties of the situation in Persia and the anxiety that is felt, he will arrange to take an early opportunity to make a statement to this House on the subject?
§ Sir E. GREYI cannot make a long statement in answer to an oral question and I cannot, of course, say what other opportunities will be available.
§ 5. Mr. O'GRADYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any official information showing that the hanging and butchery of Persians in Tabriz were perpetrated by order of Shuja-ud-Dowleh, one of the ex-Shah's generals, because the victims took part in the revolution that led to the dethronement of the ex-Shah; whether he is aware that Shuja-ud-Dowleh is still nominally assistant-governor of Tabriz, and is kept in that position by pressure from the Russian Government; and will representations be made in the proper quarter that Shuja-ud-Dowleh shall be brought to trial before a Persian tribunal?
§ Sir E. GREYThe answer to the first question is in the negative; the answer to> the second question is that Shuja-ud-Dowleh is nominally Governor of Maraga, a place many miles away from Tabriz and, although he has been temporarily acting as Deputy to Sipahdar, who arrived at Tabriz on 1st September, there is, so far as I am aware, no foundation for assuming that he is kept in that position by pressure from 1893 the Russian Government; the answer to the last question is in the negative; if we undertook to do what the hon. Member asks in the last part of his question it would be an extension of our responsibilities that would be very undesirable. As I am informed that some charge has been made that I am responsible for Shuja's proceedings, I should like to take the opportunity of stating that it as entirely untrue that I have taken any action in support of him or his appointment. An inquiry was made early in the year of the British Minister at Teheran respecting Shuja's disposition towards the Persian Government, but it was not followed by any action on our part.
§ Mr. O'GRADYArising out of that answer, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not a fact that requests were repeatedly made by the Russian Government to the Persian Government to actually appoint this creature the Governor of Tabriz, and they refused to do so?
§ Sir E. GREYI cannot tell what may have passed between the Russian Government and the Persian Government, but, if the hon. Members wishes, he might put down a further question.
§ Sir J. D. REESMay I ask whether the White Book published by the Government does not contain proof that the Russians had great provocation in the murder and mutilation of their own subjects in Tabriz?
§ Sir E. GREYAs the White Book has been published, hon. Members can study it for themselves.
§ 6. Mr. MORRELLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state, approximately, what is the total number of Russian troops now in Persia; and whether he has any official information showing that 3,000 more Russian troops have recently been sent there?
§ Sir E. GREYThere were 12,400 Russian troops in Persia in July last. Since then I have heard from His Majesty's Consul at Tabriz, who has reported that Russian troops had begun to withdraw, and that about 2,300 had left Tabriz in the last two days. I have also heard that a Russian force is at present proceeding to the neighbourhood of the Turco-Persian frontier.
§ Mr. MORRELLMay we assume there is no truth in the statement that the Russian forces in Persia are being strengthened?
§ Sir E. GREYAs far as we are aware, they have not been strengthened. Two thousand three hundred were actually withdrawing from Tabriz, but it is not quite clear where they were going, possibly they were the force going towards the Turco-Persian frontier.