HC Deb 10 July 1900 vol 85 cc1107-8
SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information to show that Japan did not at the beginning of the Chinese crisis despatch a sufficient force to restore order at Peking owing to the opposition of the Russian Government.

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

Her Majesty's Government are not aware of any such opposition having been made by the Russian Government.

MR. MACLEAN (Cardiff)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Japan has imposed any conditions upon or attached any stipulations to the employment of her troops in North China.

*MR. BRODRICK

No, Sir.

MR. LLOYD-GEORGE (Carnarvon, etc.)

On behalf of the hon. Member for Kirkcaldy, I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will state the date on which Her Majesty's Government addressed a communication to the Government of Japan, proposing that larger reinforcements should be sent to China; and whether the terms of such communication can be laid upon the Table of the House.

*MR. BRODRICK

Communications between Her Majesty's Government and Japan respecting the increase of force required at Ta-ku began on 13th June, and they have continued without intermission. On 22nd June Her Majesty's Government addressed an urgent telegram to the Chargé d'Affaires at Tokio, instructing him to inform the Japanese Government of the critical position of the Legations, and of the large reinforcements placed under orders from India, and urging on the Japanese Government the necessity of immediate action. The papers to be laid will include these despatches.

MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)

Did Lord Salisbury offer any inducement to Japan to send reinforcements?

[No answer was given.]

SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the consent of the Japanese Government to send large reinforcements to put down the disturbances in China is conditional upon the consent of all the Great Powers; and, if so, whether that consent has been given.

*MR. BRODRICK

The answer is "No."

SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT

To which of my two questions does that apply—the first or the last?

*MR. BRODRICK

I intended to convey that, as far as the Government are aware, there has been no opposition on the part of other Governments. The answer, therefore, applies to both questions.