HC Deb 20 July 1900 vol 86 cc642-3
MR. JOSEPH WALTON

I wish to ask whether the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs can state the number and class of ships on the Yang-tsze River?

* MR. BRODRICK

Sixteen of Her Majesty's ships are at present employed on the Yang-tsze and its vicinity, and are being moved from day to day to meet the constantly changing conditions. The senior naval officer is at Woosung, and is in close communication with the Consul General at Shanghai. It is not desirable that the exact positions of Her Majesty's ships on the China Station should be specified during the present critical condition of affairs.