§ MR. H. H. MARKS (Kent, Thanet)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for for Foreign Affairs whether a reply has yet been received from the Chinese Government to the request of His Majesty's Government for more definite assurances in regard to the Imperial edict placing the Maritime Customs under the control of a Chinese administrator.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYA telegram has been received from His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking to the effect that he was yesterday given a definite promise by the Foreign Board that the Chinese Government would send him a note in a few days, formally recapitulating and reaffirming the specific engagement contained in Articles 7 and 6 of the 1896 and 1898 Loan Agreements that the administration of the Maritime Customs shall continue as at present constitued.