HC Deb 09 March 1897 vol 47 cc295-6
MR. C. E. SCHWANN (Manchester, N.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India what action the Government of India has taken, in fulfilment of the promises given by the Prime Minister, on behalf of the Home and Indian. Governments, to the deputation of the Associated Chambers of Commerce in June last, and subsequent memorial of the Chambers, to carry out at State expense the necessary surveys, levels, and estimates for the section of the projected Burmah Siam-China Railway leading from the Burmese seaport of Mouhmien to the Siamese frontier, in order to enable some powerful and solvent company to undertake and execute this section of the line?

LORD GEORGE HAMILTON

The statement made by the Prime Minister to the deputation from the Associated Chambers of Commerce on June 12 last, was to the effect that if a powerful and solvent company were formed for the suggested Burmah-Siam-China Railway such assistance as was deemed possible by Government would be given towards the construction of that portion of the line which lay in British Indian territory. In pursuance of this undertaking the views of the Chambers of Commerce in support of the, project were transmitted to the Government of India in August last for an expression of their opinion. That Government have recently replied deprecating any expenditure from Indian revenues which might commit them to the execution of this project until the manner in which such a line is to be financed has been discussed and determined.

MR. SCHWANN

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the new Burmah Frontier Treaty provides for the retrocession by China to the British of the Shan State of Kiang Hung, and for the extension of the projected Burmah-Siam-China Railway and other railways from our Burmese dominions into the neighbouring provinces of China; and, when the Treaty will be laid upon the Table of the House?

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. GEORGE CURZON,) Lancashire, Southport

Under the Burmah Frontier Convention, as revised, certain territorial compensations, including the State of Kokang, are made to Great Britain for the violation by the Chinese Government of that portion of the original agreement that related to Kiang Hung. It is further agreed that, if railways be constructed in Yun-nan, they shall be connected with any Burmese lines that may have been laid to the frontier. I cannot at present answer the third question, as the Treaty has not yet reached our hands.