§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETTI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the information in his possession shows that there is a decline of British influence in the Chinese provinces bordering on the Yang-tsze-Kiang river; and, if so, what steps His Majesty's Government are taking to restore and maintain British influence there.
§ MR. A. J. BALFOUR (for Viscount CRANHORNE)There is no information showing a decline of British influence in the Yang-tsze Valley.