§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the importance of British interests involved, Her Majesty's Government intend to increase the strength of the British squadron in Corean waters?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir E. GREY, Northumberland, Berwick)I have received no notice of the question, which it is therefore impossible to answer with precision. The Foreign Office have no reason to suppose that the squadron is at all insufficient, or that any opinion to that effect has been expressed by the authorities on the spot.
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTI sent the notice to the Foreign Office. May I ask whether the Under Secretary has any information as to the statements in to-day's papers to the effect that a great European Power is sending eight further vessels to Corean waters?
§ SIR E. GREYI have not yet seen the statement in the papers.