§ MR. LAMBERT (Devon, South Molton)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Russian Minister at Pekin has protested against the terms of the Niu-chang Railway Extension Loan, recently subscribed for in London; if so, upon what grounds was such protest made; and, whether the British Government intend that the Chinese Government shall regard the terms of the loan as a binding engagement?
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTI beg at the same time to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Russian Minister at Pekin has protested against the control of the Chinese Northern Railway Extension Loan by British influence, against the appointment of an Englishman as chief engineer, and against the appointment of a qualified accountant; and what steps Her Majesty's Government propose 1043 to take for the protection of British interests and British capital?
MR. BEODRICKWe understand that the Russian Minister at Pekin has protested against certain terms of the Niuchang Railway Extension Loan on the grounds that the provisions of the agreement conflict with assurances given to Monsieur Pavloff by the Chinese Government in July last. Her Majesty's Government regard the loan as a binding engagement on the Chinese Government.
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTWere the points of the protest those named in my question?
§ MR. BRODRICKSubstantially, they were.