§ MR. DRAGE (Derby)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that some Odessa merchants have been informed by the Russian Minister of Finance that Port Arthur is considered Russian; 381 whether that statement implies that all Russian merchandise from Russian ports in Europe will enter Port Arthur free from duty to which British merchandise will be subject; and whether Her Majesty's Government have addressed any communication to the Russian Government on the subject?
MR. CURZONWe have not heard of any such communication as that referred to in the first Question, and I am unable, therefore, to give an opinion as to what it may imply. I may, however, remind my honourable Friend that Port Arthur is not, and never has been, a Treaty mercantile port.