§ SIR DONALD CURRIEasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Her Majesty's Government are aware that the French Consul or other agent of the French Government at Hai Fung, a place in Tonquin, in the kingdom of Annam, has interdicted ships from loading rice for Hue, the capital of Annam; and, if so, whether Her Majesty's Government have remonstrated against the interference with the interests of shipping and of trade generally in that quarter; and, whether it is true that the French Government are about to submit to the Chambers a vote of five millions of francs for the purpose of compelling the King of Annam to accept the protectorate of France over Tonquin; and, in that case, whether Her Majesty's Go- 913 vernment have any reason to anticipate that such a proceeding will produce a breach of friendly relations between France and China?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICESir, Her Majesty's Government have received no information with regard to the alleged prohibition of the loading of rice at Hai Fung, near the capital of Annam, to which the hon. Member refers. They have no information beyond what has appeared in the newspapers in regard to the latter part of my hon. Friend's Question.