§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any reply has been received from the Governments of China and Japan to the offer of mediation made by Her Majesty's Government; and whether he can give the House any information as to the alleged outbreak of hostilities?
§ SIR E. GREYNo offer of mediation has been made, but Her Majesty's Government have in concert with other Powers, given friendly advice both at Pekin and Tokio in the interests of peace. We have not heard that war has been declared; but some Japanese war vessels have captured a Chinese vessel and sunk a transport. Accounts as to the origin of this encounter are conflicting.