§ *SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the cable recently laid between Shanghai. Wei-hai-wei, and Ta-ku, other than the portion between Wei-hai-wei and Chefoo, shown in the Estimates, has been laid by arrangement with His Majesty's Government, and to whom it belongs; and whether in case the proprietorship of the cable is divided between the Eastern, Extension Telegraph Company and tin-Great Northern Telegraph Company, the nationality of the persons employed in the offices at Shanghai, Chefoo, Wei-hai-wei, and Ta-ku has been provided for in the agreement; or whether, the Great Northern Company being the Danish company which uses the Russian land lines as part of its system, the new cable is subject to the same arrangements as those which have previously existed with regard to the offices in China of that company.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir M. HICKS BEACH, Bristol. W.)The cable between Shanghai. Chefoo, and Ta-ku (which does not touch at Wei-hai-wei) has been laid by the Eastern Extension and Great Northern Telegraph Companies, on account of the Chinese Telegraph Administration, under an arrangement which His Majesty's. Government recognises and supports. The cable is mortgaged by the Chinese administrations to the companies for twenty-five years at least, and they will work and maintain it. Wei-hai-wei will be served by a branch line from Chefoo. It is stipulated in the, agreement between the Eastern Extension Company and His Majesty's Government that the branch line shall be worked by British staff, and that all traffic between Wei- hai-wei, Chefoo, Shanghai, and Hong Kong shall also, as far as practicable, 229 be transmitted exclusively by British staff.