§ SIR J. COLOMB (Great Yarmouth)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the approximate estimate of the additional annual expenditure to be borne by the Navy Estimates as a consequence of the adoption of Wei-hai-wei as a permanent secondary naval base.
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. GOSCHEN,) St. George's, Hanover SquareTill the final arrange-merits are made I could not say. The amount, I think, is not likely to be very large.
§ SIR J. COLOMBI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War what is the approximate estimate of the additional annual expenditure to be borne by the Army Estimates as a consequence of the adoption of Wei-hai-wei as a permanent secondary naval base?
* THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. J. POWELLWILLIAMS,) Birmingham, S.The annual charge for the garrison is estimated at £67,000, with an eventual addition many years hence of £12,000 for non-effective charges. This is irrespective of the initial outlay on works and barracks, and on armament.
§ SIR J. COLOMBI beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the area of the belt of land tell English miles wide along the entire coast line of the Bay of Wei-hai-wei, leased to Great Britain as part of the arrangement for providing Great Britain with a suitable Naval harbour; and what is the length of the land boundary thus dividing territory in British occupation from territory under the influence of Germany.
§ MR. GOSCHENThe exact area of the belt of land cannot be given until the boundary line of the leased territory has been finally delimitated. The meridian 121 deg. 40 min. east of Greenwich is the dividing line between the territory, the subject of the lease, and the rest of Shan-tong; but until it has been surveyed it is not possible to say what is its exact length.
§ SIR J. COLOMBThen are we not in a position to know what must be the military arrangements for the defence of the harbour?
§ MR. GOSCHENWe may be in possession of that information without knowing the exact area.