HC Deb 03 August 1900 vol 87 cc626-7
*SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Eeclesall)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can inform the House who is to command the allied forces in their march upon Peking, and give any information regarding the advance. May I also ask, as a supplementary question, whether there is any truth in the statement that the advance of the allies on Peking has been delayed by the serious un preparedness of the British contingent.

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. BRODRICK,) Surrey, Guildford

As I told my hon. friend yesterday, we have no further information on the points raised in his original question. With regard to the supplementary question of which he gave me private notice, we certainly have no information of the advance of the allies being delayed by the dilatory preparations of the British contingent. On the contrary, our last information from General Gaselee, which I gave the House, was that he hoped shortly to advance, and anticipated the co-operation of the allies.