§ LORD REAYMy Lords, I rise to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can give any information in regard to the settlement of the frontier dispute between Turkey and Persia near Vazneh and Suj-Bula. I only wish, in putting this Question, to express the hope that my noble friend will be able to inform the House that in these rather delicate negotiations we have, as we had on a recent occasion, the diplomatic support of 27 Russia, which has also an interest in the settlement of this question. I believe that under the Treaty of Erzerum both Russia and ourselves are arbitrators in any difficulties arising with regard to the demarcation of this frontier.
*LORD FITZMAURICEMy Lords, some additional apprehension was a short time ago rather generally expressed during the currency of the controversy with Turkey, now terminated, with regard to the Sinai Peninsula by those who had observed that, concurrently with those events, there was, apparently, a very disagreeable, and possibly dangerous question between Turkey and Persia with regard to the Eastern frontier of Turkey, and that there was a tendency on the part of Turkey to take the law into her own hands. I am glad to be able, in regard to this question, which is not one of such burning interest to us as was the question of the Sinai Peninsula, but is, nevertheless, a question of very considerable importance, to make, on the whole, a favourable and reassuring statement.
The facts are these. A dispute has arisen between Persia and Turkey in regard to the boundary in the neighbourhood of the places mentioned by my noble friend in the Kurd districts on the borders of those two countries. Negotiations are now proceeding, and there is every reason to believe that an amicable settlement of the question will be arrived at. We understand that the question will now be decided locally between the two Governments, and we have received information that a Persian Commissioner has left to meet the Turkish Commissioner on the frontier. This, evidently, is the most desirable solution. The question has been treated at Constantinople, and the Persian Ambassador there has had the benefit of receiving advice from the British and Russian Ambassadors in regard to the matter.
In 1851 Lord Palmerston proposed that the general line of frontier between Turkey and Persia should be traced by the agents of those two Powers at Constantinople, assisted by Commissioners, in conformity with the stipulations of the Treaty of Erzerum of 1847–48, leaving doubtful: localities to be settled in detail in the, future. The Russian Government agreed to this proposal, and the work of surveying 28 the country from Mount Ararat to the Persian Gulf was then commenced. When this was done, the preparation of a map of the Turco-Persian frontier, embracing territory 700 miles in length by from 20 to 40 miles broad, was put in hand. This work lasted from November, 1857, to March, 1865, and will doubtless be the basis of the present settlement.
§ House adjourned at five minutes before Six o'clock, till Tomorrow, half-past Ten o'clock.