HC Deb 02 July 1900 vol 85 cc261-2
SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give the House any information as to the legations at Peking, the composition and command of the relieving force, and its present position.

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

Admiral Bruce, telegraphing from Ta-ku, at 4 p.m., 30th June, states that he has heard from the German Admiral that a Chinese runner three days from Peking, who arrived at Tientsin, 29th June, brought despatches saying that all Europeans were in great distress, that the German Minister had been murdered by Chinese regular troops. The total allied force available is now about 13,000 men. As the troops have been rapidly arriving we do not yet know what arrangements may have been made locally for the command of an expedition, but it has not yet been thought possible to attempt a further advance.

SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT

Does the right hon. Gentleman say that the advance from Tientsin has not yet started?

*MR. BRODRICK

It has not been thought possible to attempt a further advance.