§ 5. Mr. MORRELLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any work is now proceeding in connection with the proposed Trans-Persian railway; whether the reserves and conditions expressed in the memorandum of October, 1912, as between His Majesty's Government and the Russian Government still hold good; and whether His Majesty's Government have agreed, or are about to agree, to any extension of the proposed railway beyond the Russian sphere?
§ Sir E. GREYNo work is proceeding at the moment, though I believe surveys have been made in the Northern part of Persia. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. No surveys have been made beyond the sphere of Russian interest, but we are prepared to agree to the extension beyond this sphere on certain conditions, the general nature of which has already been stated to the House, for I may point out that were the scheme for a Trans-Persian railway to fall through the result would be that railways would be made in the North of Persia and not in the South, a state of things which would be very prejudicial to British trade.
§ Mr. MORRELLWill the House have any opportunity of discussing this before work is actually begun?
§ Sir E. GREYI cannot promise that the House will have an opportunity of discussing it before the work is begun, but Papers will be laid before the House before there is any question of making a through connection to India by the Trans-Persian line. In regard to the making of railways actually in Persian territory, it really is urgent that we should be in a position to proceed with or to encourage schemes for the making of railways in the South of Persia, seeing that at any moment schemes may be proceeded with for the making of railways in the North of Persia.
§ Mr. MORRELLMay I take it that it is not the intention of the Government to sanction a through railway to India?
§ Sir E. GREYBefore there was any question of making a connection with a through railway to India undoubtedly Papers would be laid before Parliament explaining the conditions upon which His Majesty's Government were prepared to assent.
§ Colonel YATEWould the British Government have the right of making railways south of the Russian sphere?
§ Sir E. GREYI do not contemplate that the British Government itself would actually make them. It is a question of concessions to an international society who would make railways through Persia from North to South.
§ Sir J. D. REESIs the Government of India a party to the extension of the railway beyond the Russian sphere?
§ Sir E. GREYThe Government of India has been consulted in all the negotiations with regard to the conditions on which we should consent to the extension and actual making of the railway beyond the Russian sphere.