§ MR. NORMANI beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state whether any negotiations have taken place between His Majesty's Government and the Chinese Government with a view to a modification of the terms upon which Wei-hai-wei is held; and, if so, will he state whether His Majesty's Government proposes to retain Wei-hai-wei by purchase or otherwise in case the present lease should determine.
§ EARL PERCYThe Answer to the first Question is in the negative. I can make no statement as to the policy of His Majesty's Government in hypothetical circumstances.