THE EARL OF ROSEBERYI rise to ask the noble Earl the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs a Question of which I have given him private Notice. It is, Whether the Government are in a position to confirm or deny the report that a Convention has been concluded between Russia and Persia for the cession of Sarakhs by the Shah to Russia?
§ EARL GRANVILLEHer Majesty's Government have no confirmation of this report; and, unless it should be confirmed, I can hardly believe it. Sarakhs is garrisoned by Persian soldiers, and as lately as last September our. Chargé d' Affaires at St. Petersburg assured us that Sarakhs would be always outside the Russian line. I do not like to make a guess about a thing I do not know; but I think it is very likely that some confusion has arisen from the fact that there are two places bearing the same name—Sarakhs.