HC Deb 25 April 1910 vol 17 cc4-5
Earl WINTERTON

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it was a fact that His Britannic Majesty's Government was a consulted and consenting party to the Anglo-German Financial Agreement of 1898, as included in the Blue Book, No. 1, of 1899; and whether the same financial agreement was formally and specifically recognised in the subsequent Anglo-Russian Convention which embodied the principle of spheres of influence regarding railway concessions in China?

The UNDER-SECRETARY for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. McKinnon Wood)

I have explained the nature of this agreement in my reply to a previous question by the Noble Lord on the 13th instant. His Majesty's Government were consulted and assented to the agreement between the two financial groups concerned, but it never became an agreement between the two Governments. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

Earl WINTERTON

Are we to understand that the Government do recognise the agreement as binding?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

As between the two financial elements the Government approve of the agreement.

Earl WINTERTON

Are the Government prepared to support the English group of financiers in getting the agreement carried out?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

That certainly must depend upon circumstances. It is not an agreement which is binding upon the German Government.