§ MR. MACLEAN (Cardiff)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether this country is now at war with the Chinese Empire, and whether any attacks were made upon the Foreign Legations at Peking before Admiral Seymour began his hostile march upon that city.
§ *MR. BRODRICKIt is doubtful whether there is any organised Government in China with which this country could consider itself at war. The first attacks on the staffs of the Legations were made on June 9th and 10th. The summer quarters of the British Legation outside Peking were destroyed on June 10th. The advance on Peking on June 10th was made at the instance of the Ministers at Peking.