§ 5. Sir J. D. REESasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make any statement regarding the present position of the Baghdad railway question and the progress of construction of the line?
§ Sir E. GREYIn answer to the first question I have to refer the hon. Member to the passage in the Speech from the Throne regarding the progress of negotiations with Germany and Turkey; these negotiations, which are not yet concluded, but which have proceeded on the lines indicated last Session, include questions relating to railways in Asiatic Turkey; in answer to the second question, I understand that the line from Adana to Alexandretta was opened to traffic in October, 1913, and that construction is proceeding as far east as Raju, which is 569 kilometres from Konia, and at certain other points; by June, 1913, the main line had been built as far as the Euphrates, with three breaks, of which the most important is the Chalcit Gorge, a section of 19 kilometres in length, in the east of the Taurus.