§ MR. LAWRENCE (Liverpool, Abercromby)To ash the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will say whether the fort at Shankhaiwan, lately occupied by the Russians, was, on their vacation of it, occupied by the French and the tricolour hoisted; and whether he has any information as to what power at present occupies the position.
(Answered by Earl Percy.) The portion of the fort at Shankhaiwan, previously occupied by the Russians was, on its evacuation by them, for a time occupied by a French officer with a corporal's guard, and the French flag was hoisted. The French troops have, however, now left, and a party of Russian soldiers from Tientsin are at present in occupation.
† Represents one-fifth of a sum of £11,500,000 which was a special grant sanctioned in 1897 for new construction, to be spread over a period of five years. The details of this expenditure have not been published.
§ expenditure of the countries referred to:—