§ MR. JOSEPH WALTON (Yorkshire, W.R., Barnsley)I desire to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the denial by the Russian Government of the reports as to her intention not to restore Newchwang to China or to evacuate Manchuria, His Majesty's Government will seek to secure concerted action on the part of the United States of America, Japan, and England, with the object of arriving at a definite agreement with Russia for the prompt fulfilment of her assurances in regard to these questions.
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Lord CRANBORNE,) RochesterIn reply to independent friendly communications which during the last few days have been addressed to the Russian Government by the Governments of the United States and His Majesty, the Russian Government have 299 intimated that they adhere to the engagements into which they have entered to evacuate Manchuria, though the evacuation has been temporarily delayed; and in particular they have explained, as the House is aware, that they have no intention of adopting any measures tending to exclude foreign Consuls or to obstruct foreign commerce or the use of ports. We have also received from our Consul at Newchwang information to the effect that the reports lately prevalent as to a Russian reoccupation of that place are without foundation. Under these circumstances, we see no sufficient reason for adopting the course suggested by the hon. Gentleman.