§ MR. DAVITTI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any Papers relating to events in China are to be presented to Parliament this Session; and, if so, when; whether 1074 any communication has been addressed to or received from Her Majesty's Ambassador at Pekin by the Government rebating to demands or requests for territorial or other concessions by any European Powers; and, if so, by which Powers; and whether he can see his way to place copies of such communications in the hands of Members before the Easter Recess?
MR. CURZONPapers are being prepared and will be laid as soon as possible. They will include the information received by Her Majesty's Government relative to the requests for concessions by European Powers. It will not, I am afraid, be possible to present them before the Easter Recess, the collection not being as yet complete, and reference having to be made in several cases to Her Majesty's representatives abroad.
§ MR. T. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)Will the Papers include all negotiations with China since 1895?
MR. CURZONNo. I think the idea is that these Papers shall be confined to the negotiations which have been going on during the last five or six months.
§ MR. GIBSON BOWLESWill the Under Secretary consider whether he could not, at some future time, give us the Papers since 1895, since which time we have had no information?
MR. CURZONI cannot at the moment recall to my memory what Papers since 1895 may include, but I will consider the matter.
SIR E. ASHMEAD BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)Will they include the negotiations with Japan also?
MR. CURZONI do not know that these Questions are quite fair. I cannot at present recollect the negotiations with Japan to which the hon. Member refers.
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTI will give notice.