§ 1. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the political situation in Persia?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Cecil Harmsworth)The Persian Government have convened the Mejlis to which they propose to refer the Anglo-Persian Agreement of 9th August, 1919. His Majesty's Government have for months past pressed the Persian Government to submit the Agreement to the Mejlis, upon whose attitude the political situation in Persia will largely depend. In the meantime the provisions of the Agreement have been held in suspense. The military position in North-West Persia, where British troops are only retained provisionally at the earnest request of the Persian Government, is now less acute, and the Bolshevik threat in that quarter appears to have perceptibly diminished.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYThat being the case, when can the hon. Gentleman hold out any hope of the early withdrawal of the British troops from North-West Persia?
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHI cannot for the moment add anything to the answer which I have already given.