THE EARL OF CARNARVONMy Lords, seeing the noble Lord the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in his place, I will ask him two Questions of which I have given him private Notice. The first relates to the Egyptian Loan Bill, which stands for second reading to-night. The noble Earl and the House must be aware that this Bill has not yet been printed, and, of course, has not been read. Under these circumstances, I cannot but doubt that the noble Earl 283 will consent to put it off to a future day. I think the noble Earl has suggested Thursday next for taking the second reading; but I would point out that Thursday next is not altogether a very convenient day, because on that day the Colonial Secretary proposes to move the second reading of a Bill dealing with the Australasian Confederation, which may possibly raise some discussion. I hope the noble Earl will consent to fix the second reading of the Bill a little later. Having said that, I wish to ask another Question, and it is this—Whether the noble Earl will consent to lay on the Table either the despatch of Sir Peter Lumsden or the substance of it? I ask the Question for two or three reasons—first of all, because the Russian account of this matter has now been before the world a great many days. It has been published and freely commented upon, not only in the English Press, but in that of Europe, and has, no doubt, having received no contradiction or qualification, exercised a certain influence. Secondly, there is this further reason—that Her Majesty's Government have as good as admitted that Sir Peter Lumsden does contradict, in fact, the statement made by the Russian General; and, thirdly, there appears in one of the morning papers today a very clear and detailed statement telegraphed from Tirpul, which not only contradicts the Russian account, but which purports substantially to confirm the account Sir Peter Lumsden is supposed to have sent. Under these circumstances, I feel quite sure that no one can be a gainer by the withholding of this despatch—neither Her Majesty's Government nor the country at large, nor even the Russian Government itself, when we are in this state of doubt. I would, therefore, very strongly urge on the noble Earl that he should comply with that which is undoubtedly the wish of the very large majority of this House.
§ EARL GRANVILLEMy Lords, in answer to the first Question put to me by the noble Earl, I have to state that I think it would be more desirable that the Egyptian Loan Bill should be taken without delay. I should very much regret that there should be any delay on our part. The noble Earl stated that the Bill has not been printed. It is in my hands now; but I have a very strong 284 notion, derived from the interest recently shown by the noble Earl in politics, that the noble Earl would have been able to proceed with the Bill at five minutes' notice. Still, I feel it more respectful to him and to your Lordships, the request having been made, to postpone the second reading till Thursday. In the meantime I will communicate with my noble Friend the Colonial Secretary, and ascertain from him whether there is any reason why the two Bills should not be proceeded with on the same night. At any rate, I will fix the Loan Bill for Thursday. The noble Earl also made another very reasonable request with respect to the unfortunate events that have taken place at Ak Tépé. I stated the other day that we had not received a despatch from Sir Peter Lumsden, though we expected one in answer to the categorical questions we put to him. I have now to say that a telegraphic message has been received this day, and I sent it to the Russian Ambassador soon after it arrived. I propose to lay it on the Table of your Lordships' House, and I hope it will be in your Lordships' hands immediately.
§ THE EARL OF HARROWBYCan the noble Earl state how long that message from Sir Peter Lumsden took in transmission? The matter of time is of great interest to us.
§ EARL GRANVILLEI regret that I am not able to state without Notice what time is required for the transmission of messages from Afghan territory to St. Petersburg or to England.
LORD ELLENBOROUGHDoes the noble Earl know whether there is any truth in the announcement published in the newspapers, or will he inquire whether it is a fact, that the Russians are making a military road by means of forced labour from Sarakhs to Herat?
§ [No reply.]