§ EARL DE LA WARRI wish to ask the noble Earl the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs a Question of which I have given him private Notice—Whether the proposal of Her Majesty's Government with regard to the Afghan Frontier question is to be understood as one of mediation or of arbitration—that is, whether it is one inviting the good offices of a friendly Power, or one placing the question at issue in the hands of an irresponsible umpire, whose decision would be final?
§ EARL GRANVILLEMy Lords, there are one or two Peers on the other side of the House who, I think, have not not such a strong conviction as I have that no one is capable of putting Questions with greater authority or clearness than the noble Marquess the Leader of the Opposition.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYI entirely disagree with you.
§ EARL GRANVILLETherefore, I do not think it necessary, when the noble Marquess has put a Question one day, that some of his Friends should come to the rescue with another Question on the following day. To make it clear, at the same time I must say that I have nothing to add to what I stated yesterday; but as there is in the Question of the noble Earl something in the nature of censure upon what has been done, I should like to say that what has been done appears to me a very simple and honourable proceeding on the part of the States concerned. In private life I can conceive nothing better than that if two individuals have pressing matters of great practical importance to them- 1622 selves, and supposing that a very disagreeable and regrettable incident has occurred which, to a certain degree, affects their honour, and on which they make counter statements and contentions—I think your Lordships will agree with me that it would be better to refer that question to the judgment of some friend in whom they may have perfect confidence to enable the matter to be closed with honour to both sides. That appears to me to be exactly what has been done in this case. The two nations were discussing a question of great importance—namely, the delimitations of the Frontier of Afghanistan—and a regrettable incident occurred which, rightly or wrongly, seems to affect the honour and interest of the parties concerned; and, instead of going to the ultima ratio, I think it is an honourable proceeding on our part to propose that reference should be made to the judgment of the Head of a friendly State, and I think it equally creditable and honourable to Russia that she should have concurred in that offer.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYI must decline the office of universal Questioner which the noble Earl would confer on me; and after this competition between my noble Friend (Earl De La Warr) and myself, I confess that he has entirely carried off the palm. But I cannot for a moment attempt any competition with him, for he has got a longer speech out of the noble Earl than I ever succeeded in doing. He has not only done that, but he has obtained a revelation from the noble Earl of the fact which we have never heard before—that there are not only counter contentions but counter statements to be referred to the arbitrator. That throws new light on the matter. The only statements are those of General Komaroff on the one side, and Captain Yate on the other; and it appears that the truth or falsehood of those statements is to be referred to the arbitrator. I am exceedingly obliged to my noble Friend for having extracted that statement.