MR. J. WALTON (Yorks., W.R., Barnsley)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Russo-Chinese Agreement prohibits the entrance of British men-of-war into Port Arthur and Talienwan; if so, what steps have been taken by Her Majesty's Government to uphold British rights, expressly given under the Treaty of Tien-tsin, which are thus violated? And whether Her Majesty's Government will continue to send British men-of-war to Port Arthur as heretofore?
MR. CURZONWe are not in possession of the text of the Russo-Chinese Agreement. But, according to the statement of Count Mouravieff, in the concluding dispatch of the recent China papers, Russia intends to maintain the rights of the sovereignty of China over Port Arthur and Talienwan, and to respect the Treaties existing between that Empire and other States. Count Mouravieff further stated that respect for the sovereign rights of China implied the scrupulous maintenance of the status quo existing before the lease of those ports; and that the facility of entry for foreign men-of-war and merchant ships, in certain cases provided for by the Treaties, even into the closed ports of China, would be assured to them by the new regulations. It follows from this, he went on to say, that Port Arthur will be open to English ships on the same conditions as it always has been. In these circumstances Her Majesty's Government have addressed an inquiry to the Russian Government as to the exact terms of the Agreement. British ships of war will continue to avail themselves of the Treaty rights of access to all ports in China whenever the interests of Her Majesty's Government may render it desirable.