§ SIR ELLIS ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign affairs whether he can now state the terms of the Agreement which has just been signed between Russia and China?
MR. CURZONThe exact terms of the Agreement are not in our possession, but the Russian Ambassador has notified to 1247 Her Majesty's Government that by a convention signed on March 27th between Russia and China, the usufruct of Port Arthur and Talienwan, and the adjacent territories, has been granted to Russia by the Chinese Government.
§ MR. W. REDMONDCan the right hon. Gentleman say how it is that Russia has obtained Talienwan when England could not?
§ [No Reply.]
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTI should like to ask whether it is the fact, or have Her Majesty's Government any confirmation of the report, that the Russian flag has been hoisted at Port Arthur, and also whether Port Arthur will remain a free or open port?
§ SIR W. HARCOURT (Monmouthshire, W.)I understood the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs to state, in reply to the hon. Member for the Ecclesall Division of Sheffield, that he had received a communication from the Russian Ambassador stating that the "usufruct" of Port Arthur and Talienwan had been granted to Russia. "Usufruct" appears to be a new word to introduce in this matter. Do I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that when that communication was made there was no communication of the terms attached to the "usufruct"?
MR. CURZONYes, Sir. The communication from the Russian Ambassador from which I was quoting was received this morning at the Foreign Office, and I only saw it half an hour ago. I certainly did not use the term "usufruct" from any personal preference of my own, but because "usufruct" is a direct translation of the term "usufruit" employed by the Russian Ambassador in the communication in question. There was no other mention in the communication received from him as to the exact terms of the agreement beyond that which I have given to the House.
§ MR. T. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)Does the right hon. Gentleman himself attach any meaning to the term "usufruct" as applied to a military fortress, and will he lay the communication on the Table of the House?
MR. CURZONThe question of laying the Note on the Table of the House will be considered, but I have little doubt that it will be included among the Papers already promised.
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTWill the right hon. Gentleman also lay on the Table of the House the previous communications of the Russian Government on the same subject?
MR. CURZONI do not know to what the hon. Member is referring. Tester-day I stated that I was about to lay Papers on the Table of the House, containing many previous communications with the Russian and other foreign Governments.