MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign 279 Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have now agreed with the Chinese Government on any more exact definition of the boundaries of the Yang-tsze Valley, which the Chinese Government have undertaken to alienate, than is contained in the Blue Book on China recently issued, wherein the territory to which the undertaking applies is variously described on 30th December, 1897, as the Yang-tsze Valley, and on the 14th February, 1898, as territories of the provinces, adjoining the Yang-tsze and as territory in the Yang-tsze region; and, if so, whether he can state what the, definition is that has been, agreed upon?
§ MR. YERBURGH (Chester)May I ask whether the statement in the China Blue Book No. 1, that the territory in the Yang-tsze region should not be ceded to another Power, is held by Her Majesty's Government to be a definite and binding undertaking on the part of the Chinese not to alienate the territory?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! Notice should be given of that question.
MR. CURZONThe exact terms of the assurance given by the Chinese Government will be found in the Paper which has already been presented to the House. Perhaps I may be allowed to say in reply to the honourable Member for Chester that we do regard the assurance as a definite and binding undertaking on the part of the Chinese Government.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESMy question was whether a more exact definition has been agreed upon. The definition in the Blue Book is not exact.
MR. CURZONThere I differ from the honourable Member. I regard the definition in the Blue Book as being exact. A more exact definition than that contained in the Blue Book we have not obtained.