§ MR. LAMBERT (Devon, South Molton)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether, in the exchange of Notes between Russia and the United Kingdom, the Basin of the Yang-tsze has been defined; and, if not, do the Government intend to define it; whether the Government claims the same rights in the Yang-tsze Basin as Russia claims north of the Great Wall; and, whether the treaty rights of the United Kingdom under the treaty of Tien-tsin are in any way abrogated to the north of the Great Wall in China.
§ * Mr. BRODRICKThe Yang-tsze Basin has been defined as the provinces adjoining the Yang-tsze river, and Ho-nan and Chekiang. I am unable to state what the exact claims of Russia may be as regards Manchuria. What Her Majesty's Government claim as regards the Yang-tsze Valley is that no portion of the territory shall be leased, mortgaged, or in any way alienated to any other Power. The answer to the third question is in the negative.