§ 1. Sir J. D. REESasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give the House any information regarding Sir Percy Sykes's progress in Persia; and can he say to what extent, if at all, that officer has already succeeded in organising in the southern provinces a force of military police under British officers trained in India?
§ The MINISTER of BLOCKADE (Lord Robert Cecil)Sir P. Sykes is at present at Shiraz where he is engaged in organising the South Persia Rifles. For obvious reasons it would be undesirable to discuss in public the points raised in the second part of the question.
§ 4. Mr. BROOKESasked whether the efforts of Russia and Great Britain have now succeeded in restoring order in Persia 1244 and in ejecting the Turks; and whether the Persian gendarmerie can be so reconstituted as to obviate the necessity of any recurrence of the large-scale military operations on Persian soil both by Russia and by ourselves?
§ Lord R. CECILAs regards the first part of the question, it is hoped that the general retreat of the Turkish forces in Persia which is now taking place will before long bring about normal conditions in that country: the considerations and objects mentioned in the last part of the question are receiving the careful attention of His Majesty's Government in consultation with the Russian and Persian Governments.