§ *SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the negotiations commenced four years ago by the Peking Syndicate to obtain permission to construct a railway to the Yangtse River have advanced beyond the recognition of the claim twelve months ago by Prince Ching to Sir Ernest Satow; if so, what is the present state of the negotiations.
§ LORD CRANBORNEThe reply to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative, but the negotiations which are proceeding with the Chinese Government in regard to this as well as to other railway questions are not yet concluded. I am afraid I am not able at this juncture to give any particulars as to the present state of the negotiations.