§ MR. MACLEAN (Cardiff)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information to the effect of the statement made by Count von Billow, German Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in his circular note, that up to 10th June the English Minister at Peking, in agreement with the late Baron von Ketteler, considered the personal safety of members of the Legations had been sufficiently secured by the measures already adopted; 60 and can he state on what date Admiral Seymour was summoned to commence his march to Peking.
§ * MR. BRODRICKGuards for the Legations were sent for on 27th May, and although the position was not free from anxiety, the first intimation of imminent danger to the Legations is contained in a telegram from Sir C. MacDonald of 4th June. He stated that the position was such that they might be besieged at any time with the railway and telegraph lines cut, and he asked that, should this happen, instructions might be sent to Admiral Seymour to concert measures for their relief with the officers commanding the various squadrons at Ta-ku. Her Majesty's Government gave Admiral Seymour unfettered discretion on 6th June to act in concert with other Powers, and he landed a force on 9th June. On 10th June, Sir C. MacDonald telegraphed to Admiral Seymour urging an immediate advance which had been in fact already commenced.
§ MR. MACLEANIs there anything definite from Sir C. MacDonald up to 10th June as to the safety of the Legations?
§ [No answer was given.]