§ SIR EDWARD SASSOON (Hythe)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will take steps to obtain from the Chinese Government the due fulfilment of the terms of the Anhui Mining Final Contract, signed by the Wai-wa-fu on 5th June, 1904, and thus to obviate the infringement of the provisions of the McKay Treaty of 1902; also is he able to make any communication in regard to the agitation respecting the administration of the Imperial maritime customs that has recently become apparent.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. RUNCIMAN,, for Sir EDWARD GREY) DewsburyHis Majesty's Minister at Peking has made repeated representations to the Chinese Government urging that the concession should be recognised as still valid, and he telegraphed on April 23rd that he was pressing for an official reply in writing. A despatch which is now on the way from Peking is being awaited, 66 and may throw futher light on the present situation. As regards the Maritime Customs, I regret that I am unable as yet to add to the information I have already given to the House.