MR. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have received from the French Government communication of the notes addressed by the Tsung li Yamên to M. Dubail, Chargé d'Affaires of the French Republic at Pekin on 9th April 1898, and published in the French Yellow Book in October last, whereby the Chinese Government gives to the French Government an assurance similar in terms to that given to Her Majesty's Government relative to the Yang-tsze region, that the three provinces of Kwang Tung, Kwang-si, and Yunnan bordering on Tonkin will not be ceded or leased to any other Power, and whereby the Chinese Government further grants to the French Government the right to construct a railway from the frontier of Tonkin to Yunnan-fu and undertakes to grant the land required for that purpose, and is addition gives to the French Government a lease of 99 years of the Bay of Kwang-tcheou-ouan as a naval station; and, whether Her Majesty's Government are now able to lay upon the Table o; the House papers relating to those matters and to Chinese affairs generally or, if not now able, when they expect to be able to do so?
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (MR. ST. JOHN BRODRICK,) Surrey, GuildfordTin cotes in question have not been communicated to us either by the French o Chinese Government. Further paper relating to China will be presented a soon as possible. The voluminous character of the correspondence will cause some little delay in issuing them.