§ MR. JOSEPH WALTONI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, seeing that Russia has collected and retained the Imperial Maritime Custom Revenues at Niu-chwang since August, 1900, and in view of the fact that these form part of the security for Chinese loans, His Majesty's Government has made representations to the Russian Government in regard to the restoration of these moneys in the interests of British bondholders; and, if so, with what results.
§ LORD CRANBORNEWe have been informed that the duties collected by the Imperial Maritime Customsat Niu-chwang are paid into the Russo-Chinese Bank to the credit of the Chinese Government, minus the monthly amount required for the support of the office. I understand that the Russian authorities claim to deduct from these funds the amount expended by them in the repair of the Shanhaikuan-Niu-chwang Railway, but further inquiries are being made as to whether such an arrangement would endanger the security of the bondholders.