§ 1. Sir GEORGE SCOTT ROBERTSONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give the total strength of the Persian Cossacks and say where they are stationed; are they exclusively commanded by Russian officers; is the Swedish gendarmerie practically excluded from all districts under Russian influence; has he any official knowledge of any arrangements whereby all Russian troops are to be withdrawn from the northern provinces; and whether he has reason to believe that the Russian Minister at Teheran has recently made a statement to that effect?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir E. Grey)My latest official information is to the effect that there are about 1,800 men based on Teheran—some of whom have been sent to Kermanshah—and about 600 men at Tabriz. I believe there are some Persian officers, but all the higher commands are held by Russian officers. The answer to the third point is in the negative. I am not aware of any change in the policy of the Russian Government with regard to the withdrawal of troops, and I have been informed that this policy has recently been restated by the Russian Minister at Teheran in an interview with the Press.
§ Sir G. SCOTT ROBERTSONHas my right hon. Friend any news now of the reported defeat of the Swedish gendarmerie at Kirman; secondly, may I ask if he recognises the eventual possibility of having to organise a force in that district on the model of the Persian?
§ Sir E. GREYI must ask my hon. Friend to give me notice of that question, as the matter is very important.
§ Sir J. D. REESHas there been a defeat of the Swedish gendarmerie at Kirman as well as at Kazerun?
§ Sir E. GREYI have not got it in my mind at the moment that there has been any recent defeat as indicated, and would ask for notice of that question. For the moment I cannot say for certain; I have not heard of it.
§ Sir G. SCOTT ROBERTSONHave not the Baluchistan raiders defeated the Swedish gendarmerie at Kirman?
§ Sir E. GREYThere was trouble some time ago. I do not know whether my hon. Friend is alluding to something that happened some time ago—
§ Sir G. SCOTT ROBERTSONQuite recently.
§ Sir E. GREYPerhaps it would be better to give notice.