§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Her Majesty has any diplomatic or consular representative in Tonquin or Annam; whether, in view of the size and importance of the territories in the Indo-Chinese peninsula, now being attacked by the French Republic, Her Majesty's Government will take immediate steps to acquire early and reliable information as to the conduct and views of the French; and, whether he can give any information as to the progress of the French invasion?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICESir, I informed the hon. Member during the discussion of the Estimates that Her Majesty has no Diplomatic or Consular Representative in Tonquin and Annam. It is not, at present, intended to alter these arrangements. Her Majesty's Government has no special information in regard to the military operations now going on, beyond the fact that troops have arrived at Saigon on their way to Tonquin, and that the importation of arms into Annam has been prohibited to foreign traders. The last part of the Question is one of opinion, which I hardly think it right to answer.
§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked what was the nearest place to Tonquin where there was a Representative of Her Majesty's Consular or Diplomatic Body; and whether, in view of the fact that British trade with these countries amounts to over £2,000,000 a-year, Her Majesty's Government would take some steps to keep themselves informed as to the progress of the French invasion?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEI answered this Question on the Estimates, and I told the hon. Member that we had no difficulty in obtaining information from Bankok or Saigon.