§ MR. BIRRELL (Fife, W.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been called to recent riots in China, and particularly on the River Yang-tse, as reported in the Standard of 8th and 9th June ultimo, whereby the lives and property of Europeans have been sacrificed; and whether any steps have been, or are intended to be, taken to protect British subjects resident in those parts?
§ *SIR J. FERGUSSONHer Majesty's Consuls at Kinkiang, which is near to Wusueh, and at Hankow, the next Treaty port further up the river, have reported that Mr. Green, in the China 155 Customs Service, and the British Agent of the Wesleyau Mission have been murdered at Wusueh, but nobody else as far as is known, and that most of the other British subjects on the spot are known to be safe. The Consuls have made no appeal for assistance, but if any had been required they would no doubt have communicated direct with the Consulate General at Shanghai, and so with the nearest British naval officer. On the occasion of the riot which occurred at Wuhu last month, Chinese and other men-of-war were at once despatched from Shanghai to restore order, and accordingly there can be no reason to doubt that any necessary measures have been taken in the present instance, and that the Consuls are satisfied on the subject.