§ MR. O'SHEE (Waterford, W.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether China is included under the term other Powers, in Articles 2 and 3 of the Agreement between Great Britain and Japan; whether the granting by China of any special commercial privileges or railway concessions, after the date of the Agreement, in any portion of her territory to any other Power is a matter that contravenes the Agreement; and whether the recognition by China of spheres of influence of other Powers contravenes it.
§ *LORD CRANBORNEThe interpretation of any words in an Agreement is not usually made the subject of an official statement until the circumstances have arisen which require such a statement. But as to the first part of the Question, I may say that the other Powers referred to are the countries having political or commercial relations with China or Korea.
§ MR. O'SHEEWill the noble Lord answer the second and third Questions?
§ *LORD CRANBORNEI have explained that it is contrary to what is customary in relation to these Agreements to do so.