§ MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in what position the claim of Dr. James A. Greig, one of the Missionaries of the Irish Presbyterian Church in China, against the Chinese Government, now stands; and whether the settlement, announced by the Foreign Office on 31st March as having been arrived at with the Chinese Government, has been carried out; and, if not, whether he can state the cause of the delay in doing so?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir E. GREY,) Northumberland, BerwickAccording to the latest advices received from Mr. O'Conor on the subject of this claim, the Chinese Government were making some difficulties as to carrying out the settlement on which they had agreed in principle, urging, among other grounds, that the poverty of the district in which the attack on Dr. Greig occurred would make it very difficult to levy the full amount of compensation demanded. Mr. O'Conor had replied that these were considerations into which he could not enter, and has continued to urge a speedy settlement. There can be no doubt that he will continue his efforts, and that, if necessary, he will refer home for further instructions or support.