HC Deb 11 August 1898 vol 64 cc922-3
MR. PROVAND

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any protest was made by Her Majesty's Government against the claim for preferential treatment made by Herr von Bulow on the part of the German Government, to the effect that should the Chinese Government desire to obtain foreign assistance for the construction of railways within the limits of the province of Shan-tung, they should in the first instance offer the contracts for the work and supplies connected therewith to German industry and German trade, thus shutting out all other countries from participation in trade in the province of Shan-tung in connection with the construction of railways except such as Germany does not want for herself; and whether such claim for preferential treatment by the German Government is consistent with the favoured-nation clause in the Treaty of Tien-tsin, which provides that the British Government and its subjects would be allowed free and equal participation in all privileges, immunities, and advantages which might be hereafter granted by His Majesty the Emperor of China to the Government and subjects of any other nation?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY

On 1st March, Sir Claude MacDonald was instructed by telegraph that the Chinese Government are, of course, at liberty to ascertain whether German tenders could be obtained for railway construction on better terms than those made by British capitalists; but that Her Majesty's Government could not admit a preferential right on the part of Germany simply on the ground of a projected line being within the province of Shan-tung. Sir Claude MacDonald was directed to oppose any admission of such a claim.

MR. PROVAND

How do you reconcile the claims on the part of Germany with the most-favoured-nation clause——

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! Such a Question ought not to be put.

MR. PROVAND

I am repeating the last paragraph of the Question on the Paper.

MR. SPEAKER

It ought not to have appeared on the Paper.

MR. PROVAND

May I ask whether any reply has been received to Sir Claude MacDonald's protest to the German Minister; and, if so, what are its terms?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY

The protest was sent to the Chinese Government, and no reply has been received.