HC Deb 15 May 1899 vol 71 cc592-3
MR. JOSEPH WALTON (York, W.R., Barnsley)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give the House any information as to the reported application of the Russo-Chinese Bank for a concession to construct a railway from Niuchwang or some other point on the Trans-Manchurian Railway to Pekin, via Shan-hai-kwan, under similar conditions to the Russian Trans-Manchurian Railway, and whether the influence of Her Majesty's Government will be used to prevent such a duplication of railways between Niuchwang and Pekin as would divert the traffic from the Northern Extension line now being constructed with British capital.

MR. BRODRICK

Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Pekin has reported that a demand by the Russian Government is stated to have been made to the Yamên, but we have no information as to the point on the Trans-Manchurian line from which the line is proposed to be made to Pekin. The Yamên up to the present have declined to grant the concession. Until the whole facts are before them Her Majesty's Government can make no pronouncement on the subject.

MR. JOSEPH WALTON

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the intention of Russia to extend her Trans-Manchurian railway system to Pekin, and thus connect it with the railway already constructed by Russian capital southwards to Pao-ting, Her Majesty's Government will now take steps to have the basin of the Yang-tsze, referred to in the Anglo-Russian agreement, clearly defined.

MR. BRODRICK

The proposed extension of the Manchurian Railway to Pekin does not really affect the basin of the Yang-tsze, as to which Her Majesty's Government recently entered into agreement with the Russian Government.

MR. J. WALTON

Arising out of the reply, may I be allowed to ask the right honourable Gentleman whether the construction of a railway by Russia to Pekin, enabling her to connect her Manchurian system of railways with the rail way already built with Russian capital from Pekin southwards to Pao-ting—

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!