§ MR. R. A. YERBURGH (Chester)I beg to ask the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the acceptance by the Government and the House of the Resolution affirming the importance of maintaining the independence of Chinese territory, and of the fact that Manchuria is an integral part of the Emperor of China's dominions, it is the intention of Her Majesty's Government to support the Imperial Government of China in retaining full possession of Manchuria, the three provinces of 1673 which have a special value in Chinese eyes through its being the cradle of the reigning dynasty; and, whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the conditions under which the Trans-Manchurian Railway is being constructed?
MR. CURZONThe Russian Government is understood to be in negotiation for a lease of Talienwan and Port Arthur, and for a railway to one of those ports, but we have not heard of any attempt being made to deprive China of the possession of Manchuria; and the Chinese Government has not, in consequence, had occasion to invite our support towards its retention. I promised yesterday to lay the conditions of the Trans-Manchurian Railway.