§ EARL GRANVILLEMy Lords, I rise for the purpose of putting a Question to the noble Earl at the head of the Government, of which I have given him private Notice. I wish to know, Whether there is any foundation for the announcement made to-day that Her Majesty's Government have released Persia from her Treaty engagements in regard to Herat?
§ THE EARL OF BEACONSFIELDMy Lords, in answer to the inquiry of the noble Earl, whether there is any truth in the statement that has been made that Her Majesty's Government have released Persia from her Treaty engagements not to enter Herat, I beg to state that there is no foundation for the statement. Your Lordships will remember that I intimated the other night, in speaking of the state of Afghanistan, that Her Majesty's Government were taking steps which they believed would lead to the settlement of that country, and that I might add those steps had been, in many instances, successful. During the time to which I am referring communications have been made from the Court of Persia to Her Majesty referring to their North-Eastern Frontier. There have been considerable communications on that subject, but nothing has been concluded. I am sure that, in these circumstances, your Lordships will show that confidence which is usually reposed in Her Majesty's Government, and will not press me for any details at the present moment beyond the statement I have made.
§ EARL GRANVILLEWill Her Majesty's Government lay on the Table Papers relating to the character of those communications?
§ THE EARL OF BEACONSFIELDNo doubt Papers will be laid on the Table in due course; but it would now be inconvenient, and, I may say, injurious, to the public interests that those communications should be made known.