§ MR. SIDEBOTHAM (Cheshire, Hyde)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can state what is the total value of the export and impart trade of the Philippines; what proportion of the total amount is British trade; whether he is aware that the Manila Railway was constructed with British capital and has its headquarters in London; and whether the Government can take any steps to protect these British interests?
MR. CURZONThe latest information that we possess with regard to the trade of the Philippines is contained in a Report from Her Majesty's consul at Manila, which has been printed, and will be available for honourable Members to-morrow. Some statistics on the same subject have also recently been printed in Berlin, and were quoted in the Times of Tuesday. We have no official information regarding the Manila Railway. Three of Her Majesty's ships are at present at Manila for the protection of British interests.