§ Mr. BARTONasked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs if, in the interests of trade, he will cause full inquiry to be made, and, if approved, will use his influence to secure the joining up of the proposed Trans-Persian trunk line with a branch line to the Black Sea in the north through Tabriz, and also with a branch line to the head of the Persian Gulf in the south?
§ Sir E. GREYThe question of the alignment of possible branches of the Trans-Persian Railway is occupying the careful attention of His Majesty's Government, and the commercial point of view is of course receiving due consideration.