§ Sir J. D. REESasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any official information from the Persian Government to the effect that the troops have inflicted adequate punishment on the tribesmen responsible for the shooting of Captain Eckford?
§ Mr. ACLANDThe answer is in the negative.
Major GUESTasked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that British officers of the Indian Army serving under the Indian Foreign Department in Southern Persia are receiving allowances in addition to their pay, vary according to their rank, from 100 rupees per month for junior officers to 400 rupees per month for senior officers, but that officers of the Central India Horse who have been serving at Shiraz and Bushire have received no extra allowances of any kind to meet the heavy additional expenses they have incurred owing to the treble rates that they have to pay for transport, food, stores, and wages as compared with the ordinary rates in India; whether he is aware that the men of the Indian Cavalry who are attached to the Consular escorts get the whole of their pay without deductions, with free food and clothing for themselves and free food for their horses, but that the men of the Central India Horse, serving alongside, have to pay the whole of their usual deductions and pay for the food of their horses; and whether he will bring these matters to the notice of the Government of India 252W with a view to improving the conditions of service for the officers and men of the Central India Horse?
§ Mr. MONTAGUThe whole question of compensation to the officers and men of the Central India Horse in respect of the additional expenses incurred by them while serving in Persia is under consideration, and I will therefore gladly do as my hon. and gallant Friend suggests in the last part of the question.