§ MR. RICHARDasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether there is any truth in the announcements which appear in the public journals that an ultimatum was sent last week to the Resident at Mandalay for delivery to the King, and that in this ultimatum the Viceroy demands, among other matters, that the 134 British Resident shall be received at the Court without the ceremony of approaching the King without boots; that a British cantonment and garrison be established at Mandalay; that no Europeans be employed at Mandalay without the British sanction; and that all the existing royal monopolies shall be abolished; whether it is true that General Gore, the Officer commanding in British Burmah, has applied for five thousand more troops; and, whether his request for more troops has been granted and to what extent?
§ MR. E. STANHOPEWith the permission of the House, I will answer the Question of the hon. Member. My noble Friend the Secretary of State for India is in constant communication with the Viceroy, and I have his authority for saying that he has no reason to believe that anything of the kind has taken place. My answer must be understood as applying to both the rumours that have been referred to.