§ SIR ROPER LETHBRIDGE (Kensington, N.)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, with reference to the Convention concluded between the British and Chinese Governments, as the result of Mr. Colman Macaulay's Mission to Pekin, What was the nature of the concessions promised by China in the interests of British trade with Thibet; what progress has been made by the Chinese Government in fulfilling its promises; and, whether all the Papers on the subject will be laid before Parliament?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.)The agreement with China in regard to trade with Thibet will be found in Article 4 of the Burmah Convention (China No. 5, 1886). As I stated in answer to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Central Leeds (Mr. G. W. Balfour) on the 7th of March, Her Majesty's Government entertain no doubt that the Chinese Go- 696 vernment will fulfil their engagements under the Convention. There are no Papers that can be laid before Parliament at present.
§ SIR ROPER LETHBRIDGEasked, whether the House was to understand that China had hitherto made no progress in fulfilling her promises?
§ SIR JAMES FERGUSSONsaid, that he was not aware that any steps had yet been taken to open up trade with Thibet; but Her Majesty's Government certainly relied upon the fulfilment of the obligations entered into by China.