§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether he can give the House information as to the present relations between the French and Chinese Governments, and especially as to the causes of the dispute, and as to the action of the French Fleet at Foochow; and, what steps Her Majesty's Ministers are taking to prevent the grave injury to British trade which a war would cause?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEIt is not desirable that I should enter into the Question of the causes of the dispute between the French and Chinese Governments, as to do so might imply the expression of an opinion; but I may state that the French Yellow Book, recently laid before the French Chambers, contains information up to the end of last month, and I have placed a copy of it in the Library of the House. Her Majesty's Government have been informed that the French Squadron commands Foochow and Keelung, in Formosa; but it is believed, from information received from Paris, that negotiations are still proceeding, and it is hoped that a friendly settlement may yet be arrived at. I beg to refer the hon. Member, in answer to his last Question, to the reply I gave on the 10th of July, and to say that the instructions given last year for the protection of neutrals to the Naval Commanders of the Neutral Maritime Powers, in case of hostilities, have been recently renewed.