§ *SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the relief force has started for Peking, and, if not, what is the cause of the delay.
§ MR. BRODRICKI answered this question on Friday, when I said that no advance to Peking has yet been considered possible by the military authorities, but we understand that preparations for it are now far advanced.