*SIR CHARLES DILKE () Gloucestershire, Forest of DeanI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state what is the present position of affairs in reference to the Russian concession at Tientsin; whether the Russian Government are in occupation of any territory near the railway station or goods yard; whether the private owners are in occupation of the mining companies' yard, of the yards and junk wharves of Messrs. Butterfield and Swire, and Jardine, and W. Forbes, as well as of the light tramway line, and who is in occupation of the military college; and will he state what steps are being taken to clear up the situation.
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Lord CHAN-BORNE,) RochesterThe Russian Government do not propose that the property of foreign owners should be included in 913 their concession. With regard the ownership of the land claimed by the railway included in the Russian concession, arbitration is proceeding. The goods yard was, we understand, entirely evacuated by the Russians in July, 1901, but we have no further information as to that part of the right hon. Baronet's Question. The private owners are in occupation of the mining campanies' yard, of the yard and junk wharves of Messrs. Butterfield and Swire, Jardine, and W. Forbes. The light tramway was bought out by the German Expeditionary Force, and is used by the German military authorities for transport, stores, &c. The Russian authorities are in occupation of the Military Collage. In answer to the last Question, his Majesty's Government await the result of the arbitration.