§ MR. DILLONI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, before making a demand for a coaling station and sphere of influence in China, the Italian Government consulted the British Government; and, if they did, what advice they received from the British Government?
§ MR. BRODRICKThe Italian Government informed Her Majesty's Government of their desire to obtain a coaling station and sphere of influence in China previous to addressing their application to the Chinese Government. The advice tendered to Italy by Her Majesty's Government was that the matter should be treated diplomatically, and that there should be no employment of force.