HC Deb 25 July 1898 vol 62 cc1159-60
MR. GRETTON (Derbyshire, S.)

I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury when the Report on the Foreign Office Vote will be taken; and if the Government propose to make any statement to Parliament as to the position of the China negotiations?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY

While we are perfectly prepared to defend our action and policy in China if it is called in question, we do not contemplate making any statement in Parliament or laying any Papers on the Table before the Session closes other than those relating to the agreement as to the Yang-tsze provinces. The reason of this is that negotiations are still in progress and have not reached a stage when either a statement or a communication of Papers is possible.

SIR W. HARCOURT (Monmouthshire, W.)

I should like to ask the right honourable Gentleman whether it is not the fact that no Papers on China have been laid before Parliament since the month of April? Does the right honourable Gentleman not propose to give us any Papers relating to affairs in China generally during the months of May, June, and July, before the rising of the House?

THE FIRST LORD UF THE TREASURY

No, Sir, I gather that there have been no Papers relating to China, except such as refer to pending negotiations.

MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)

Is the House to understand that no further information will be given to the House before the recess either as to the Government's intentions in regard to Wei-hai-Wei, or as to the French opposition to the opening of Nan-ning as a free port?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY

There are no Papers to be laid before the House, but if questions are put to me, or to my right honourable Friend the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs, they will be answered, so far as it is compatible with the interests of the public service.

MR. GRETTON

When will the Papers relating to the Yang-tsze assurance be presented?

THE FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY

My right honourable Friend informs me that the Papers have already been laid in dummy, and he hopes that they will be circulated either to-morrow or the next day.