§ SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTEI wish to put a Question to the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, as it is in reference to a matter of considerable public interest. Can the hon. Baronet give the House information as to whether there is any foundation for the report that hostilities have broken out between Russia and China?
§ SIR CHARLES W. DILKE,in reply, said, that a week ago a report reached this country that the Chinese had crossed the Russian Frontier and captured a fort; but that rumour was afterwards declared to be wholly unfounded. Her Majesty's Government had received no official information as to the report appearing in that morning's papers in reference to a collision between Russian and Chinese Forces; but they had received information from St. Petersburg that afternoon, to the effect that it was believed that there was no foundation for the statement.