§ LORD WAVENEYasked, Whether Her Majesty's Government are aware that a large quantity of small-arm ammunition has been given to the Afghan Envoy recently at Calcutta, and that it has been sent on in advance; and, secondly, whether there is any objection to lay on the Table of the House the text of the Convention with Native Chiefs by which the Khyber Pass is transferred to the military occupation and protection of the mountain tribes of the district? The noble Lord said, that the two points to which the Question related gave indications of the direct and active interest which the Government were taking in the future of Afghanistan. As to the latter point, the wild tribes inhabiting the districts in the neighbourhood were, it appeared, to provide such a number of police as the Government might require for the purpose of maintaining order and securing life and property; but he doubted whether it was the opinion of their Lordships that that object, in a mountain pass like the Khyber, was to be attained by those means. He must be allowed to express his disapproval of the Convention, for there could be no doubt that our wisest policy would be to stand aloof from any such entanglements.
VISCOUNT ENFIELDMy Lords, with reference to the first part of the Question of the noble Lord, I have to state that a request lately preferred by the Ameer to the Indian Government for small arms and ammunition has been complied with; and, in all probability, those munitions either have been, or are being taken to Cabul by the Ameer. The quantities are unknown, and it is not quite certain whether they have yet been sent to Cabul or not. With regard to the second part of the Question put to me by the noble Lord, I have to state that the text of the Convention to which he refers has not yet been received at the India Office.