MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have persisted in the demand, made by Sir C. Macdonald on the lath and 19th January, 1898, for the opening of the port of Nanning; whether the French Government have persisted in their protest against the opening of that port, as to which Sir C. Macdonald reported on 31st January, 1898, that the French chargé d'affaires had spoken very violently to the Chinese Government against it; and whether he can say if any progress has been made since the 31st January towards reconciling the demand made on behalf of Her Majesty's Government with the protest against the granting of that demand made on behalf of the French Government?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. G. N. CURZON,) Lancashire, SouthportI am unable to make any statement at this moment about Nanning.
§ MR. CURZONI regret I am unable to make any statement.