§ MR. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether it is a fact that the French Government have demanded an indemnity of £8,000,000 from China for the affair at Langson; and, whether he has any information tending to show that the fighting at that place arose because the Chinese General had not received instructions to surrender; and, what steps Her Majesty's Ministers are taking to protect British Commerce with China?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEHer Majesty's Government understand that the French Government have demanded an indemnity from the Chinese Government, but have no information officially of the exact amount claimed. The only authentic information at present received is contained in the statement made by the French Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Chamber of De- 678 puties on the 7th instant, a Report of which has been transmitted by Her Majesty's Ambassador at Paris, and has also been published in the newspapers. No special steps are considered necessary at present to protect British commerce with China; but I may remind the House that towards the close of last year an understanding was come to between the neutral Powers, in accordance with which the commanders of neutral men-of-war in the China seas were to concert together for the protection in case of necessity of neutral subjects.
§ Mr. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTasked if it was proposed to lay on the Table of the House the despatch of Lord Lyons to which the noble Lord had referred?
§ LORD EDMOND FITZMAURICEsaid, he did not think it would be advantageous to produce the document.