MR. J. WALTON (Yorkshire, W.R., Barnsley)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of Stats for Foreign. Affairs whether the French and Belgian Ministers, in conjunction with M. Pokotiloff, the Director of the Russo-Chinese Bank, are negotiating with the Tsung-li-Yamêen conjointly to provide money to build a Cheng-Ling-Kau-Kau trunk line uniting Pekin with the Yang-Tsye; whether the foreign control gives the same rights as in the case of the Trans-Manchurian Railway, and that there will be no Chinese Government Guarantee; and whether the scheme would be a violation of the Treaty of Tient-sin, and of the recently concluded agreement between Her Majesty's Government and the Chinese Government in regard to the provinces adjacent to the Yang-Tsye-Kiang river; and, if so, whether Her Majesty's Government are taking steps to prevent any such infringement of British rights?
MR. CURZONI have seen in the newspapers a statement to the effect of the honourable Member's Question, but we have not so far received any information concerning it. A concession for a Pekin-Hankau line was some time ago given to a Belgian syndicate. An inquiry has been addressed by telegraph to Sir Claude MacDonald.