§ COLONEL MILWARD (Warwick, Stratford-upon Avon)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government has confirmation of the alleged opposition of the Russian Government to the construction of the Niuchwang extension of the Pekin and Taku Railway by money borrowed from the Hong-kong and Shanghai Bank; and of the threats of compensation employed by the Russian Government; whether such opposition foreshadows a definite and exclusive sphere of Russian influence; and whether such action upon the part of Russia will cause an alteration in the policy hitherto pursued by Great Britain?
MR. CURZONHer Majesty's Minister at Pekin has telegraphed that the Russian Chargé d'Affaires has made use of no such threat as that reported in the Press and alluded to in the Question. In these circumstances the considerations indicated in the second and third Questions do not arise.