§ MR. WHITWELLasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he can inform the House before the Recess that Her Majesty's Government will secure the confirmation of the Chefoo Treaty?
§ MR. BOURKESir, the Chefoo Treaty, as the House is aware, has been for some time before both the India Office and the Foreign Office, and considerable negotiations have been going on between the Foreign Office and the Government of India. I am not in a position, nor is the Secretary of State in a position, to state whether it will be possible to ratify the Treaty before the termination of the Session; but the matter has received the attention of both Secretaries of State, and there will be no unnecessary delay in the ratification of the Treaty.