§ LORD CHARLES BERESFORD (York)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have any information which they can give to the House relative to the reported French occupation of Hainan; and whether they have knowledge of any intention on the part of France to occupy temporarily or permanently a Naval base in those waters similar to the recent occupation by Germany and Russia?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. G. N. CURZON,) Lancashire, S.W., SouthportThe French Government have assured Her Majesty's Ambassador at Paris that they have not the least intention of initiating any such policy towards China.