§ MR. JOSEPH WALTON (Yorkshire, W.R., Barnsley)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the reportel withdrawal of the Russians from Niuchwang, the active operations of brigands in the neighbourhood, and the uncertainty as to when a Japanese occupation will take place, also that Niuchwang is not now likely to be the scene of naval operations, His Majesty's Government will send a gunboat to Niuchwang for the protection of the lives and property of British subjects.
§ EARL PERCYHis Majesty's Government have no reason to believe that the Russians have withdrawn from Niuchwang, but the "Espiegle" has been ordered to that port.