§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Russian Minister at Pekin has protested against the alliance proposed between China and Japan for the purpose of establishing the independence of China and Chinese reforms, and has threatened China with most serious consequences if such an alliance be concluded; and whether China and Japan can, in face of such menaces, depend upon the support of Her Majesty's Government.
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. BRODRICK,) Surrey, GuildfordNo, Sir. We have received no information to this effect. I am afraid I cannot state what the policy of Her Majesty's Government will be in a hypothetical case.