THE EARL OF CRAWFORDasked the Secretary of State for India, Whether the Indian Government had received any information as to the reported proclamation of a Holy War against Russia by the Ameer of Afghanistan, and the alleged disturbances in that country, as stated in recent telegrams in the public Press?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (Viscount CROSS)My Lords, I am not unaware of the rumours as to the proclamation of a Holy War to which the noble Lord refers, but I do not attach importance to them. They have not been in any way confirmed, or even commented upon by the Government of India, and I do not believe that the Ameer of Afghanistan has any hostile intentions whatever towards Russia. With regard to the alleged disturbances in Afghanistan, some rumours were reported to the Indian Government a short time ago, but of late no more has been heard of them, and I have reason to suppose that tranquillity has been maintained.