§ *SIR ELLIS ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any assurances from the Russian Government regarding the reports of the proposed passage of the Trans-Siberian Railway across Chinese territory, and especially as to the use of Port Arthur as its terminus?
MR. CURZONI stated in reply to a Question on February 17th last, as to whether Russia had obtained by Treaty with China a right to carry the Siberian Railway to Port Arthur—that Her Majesty's Government had been informed by the Russian Government that there was no truth whatever in the statement.
§ *SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTDoes the answer apply up to the present time?
§ *SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTI beg to ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is satisfied that the suggestions made in this Question are not correct?
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! The hon. Member is now asking a Question involving a matter of opinion.
§ *SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTWill the right hon. Gentleman, in view of the many statements which have lately been made to the effect that some arrangement has been made for the construction of this railway, be so good as to inquire of the Russian Government if there is any foundation for those statements?
MR. CURZONMy answer shows that we have already inquired only a short time ago, and that the answer of the Russian Ambassador was that there was no truth in the statements.