MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that Sir C. Macdonald on Wednesday, 19th January, 1898, demanded of the Chinese Government the opening of the port of Nanning; that on the 25th January he reported that the French Government had protested against the opening of that port; and that on the 31st January he again reported that the French Chargé d'Affaires at Pekin had spoken very violently to the Chinese Government against it, any further steps have been taken by Her Majesty's Government in the matter since the 31st January; whether the French Government still maintain their opposition to the opening of Nanning; whether Her Majesty's Government have consequently withdrawn their demand for its opening; and when he expects to be able to lay upon the Table the correspondence relating to the matter?
MR. CURZONI am unable at present to make any statement on the subject, or to say whether the Papers can be published.