§ LORD CHARLES BERESFORDI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the present position of the claim of a British firm against the Chinese Government for the sinking of the "Kow Shing," the date of the last communication of Her Majesty's Government on the subject addressed to the Tsang-li-Yamên, and the date of their reply; and whether any limit has been fixed to the reasonable time to be given to the Chinese Government indicated by the Under Secretary for War two months ago.
§ MR. BRODRICKWe are still awaiting a reply from the Chinese Government to the proposal that the question should be referred to arbitration, and a note was sent to the Chinese Minister on the 9th ultimo, pressing for a reply. The answer to the second question is in the negative.