MR. GIBSON BOWLESI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have received any information relative to the collision alleged to have occurred at Talienwan between Russians and Chinese, with the result of 100 Chinese being killed; if so, whether he can give the House any information as to the cause of this collision, and in particular whether it arose from an attempt on the part of the Russian Government to levy taxes upon the Chinese?
§ MR. BRODRICKAccording to information received from a Chinese source a collision did occur near Talienwan on the occasion of a deputation of Chinese peasants to the Russian authorities to petition against the exaction of the land tax. The Cossacks are reported to have fired upon the crowd, killing and wounding some of them; the report does not give the exact number. It is understood that the Chinese Government are considering the steps to be taken.
MR. GIBSON BOWLESMay I ask the right honourable Gentleman what was the Chinese source that he refers to; was it the Chinese Government?
§ MR. BRODRICKUnauthorised.