HC Deb 26 February 1901 vol 89 cc1192-3
MR. O'SHEE (Waterford, W.)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the articles seized I by the British troops in Peking, with a view to restitution after peace is declared, have been removed from the places or palaces where they were seized; and, if so, whether these articles were left untouched by the Russian troops during their prior occupation of the same places or palaces; and, if so, on what grounds the British troops acted differently from the Russian troops.

LORD G. HAMILTON

The articles in question have not been seized, as the question implies, but put into safe custody by General Gaselee with a view to restitution to their owners when the war is over. I have no information as to what has happened to all the other articles which were in the palace when it was first occupied by the Russian troops.