§ SIR ELLIS ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have any information confirming the telegram in the Times of 7th March as to the Russian demands for the cession of Port Arthur and Talienwan, and the construction of a Russian railway across Manchuria?
MR. CURZONThe only information that we have received on the subject is a telegram yesterday from Her Majesty's Minister at Peking, saying that it was reported there that Russia had demanded a lease of Talienwan and Port Arthur on the same terms as the German lease of Kiaou-Chau, and also a railway concession to Port Arthur from Petune. We have telegraphed inquiries to Peking and St. Petersburg.