§ MR. LYNCH (Yorkshire, W.R., Ripon)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps are being taken by His Majesty's Government to safeguard and to develop British commercial interests in Manchuria, in view of the importance to this country of neutral markets on account of our Free Trade principles.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOB FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir EDWARD GREY, Northumberland, Berwick)His Majesty's Government understand that there are no longer any restrictions on the movements of foreign traders or merchandise in Manchuria. A Consul-General will be appointed to reside at Mukden, and there is also a Consul at Newchang. It will be their duty to see that British traders receive the equal treatment with the nationals of other countries to which they are entitled, and to afford them such assistance as they properly can. A few weeks ago Mr. Hosie, the Commercial Attache at the Pekin Legation, was sent specially to Newchang and Mukden to report on the position in Manchuria.