* MR. CURZON (Lancashire, Southport)I beg to put to the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs a question of which I gave him notice earlier in the afternoon—Whether the Government have any official confirmation of the telegrams from Paris in this morning's papers, about the despatch of a French ultimatum to Siam; and whether such ultimatum involves the cession of the entire left bank of the Mekong to France, and of the provinces of Battambong and Angkor to Cambogia, thereby depriving Siam of nearly one-half of the entire Kingdom, and planting the French in immediate contiguity to the British Burmese States on the Upper Mekong in the North, and in the heart of Siam in the South?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir E. GREY,) Northumberland, BerwickI have made inquiries since I received notice of the hon. Member's question, and am informed that no information has yet reached the Foreign Office with regard to any such ultimatum, or as to the terms of it. The latest information we have as to the terms of any demand made by the French on the Siamese Government is that indicated in the French Minister's speech in the Chamber yesterday.
MR. CURZONWill my hon. Friend make inquiry this evening or to-morrow, in order to give information to the House upon what is a very important and a very serious question?
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)Can the hon. Member say whether the French gunboats are still anchored off Bangkok?
§ * SIR E. GREYIf the hon. Member will put the question to-morrow, I shall be glad to give any further information at my disposal.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§ House adjourned at five minutes before Six o'clock.