§ SIR F. CAWLEY (Lancashire, Prestwich)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the arrangement with France in 1896, whereby it was agreed to share equally all privileges or advantages that might be conceded by China in Yunnan, included any arrangement for the passage of British goods for China through Tonkin without payment of duty, or for a drawback on the Chinese frontier of any duty which may have been levied at the port of entry; if not, whether, in view of the penetration of the Chinese provinces of Yunnan and Kwangsi by the Tonkin railways, His Majesty's Government will, in the interests of British trade, endeavour to make such arrangements; and whether any preferential treatment is accorded to French goods on the steamers on the Red River or on the railway in Tonkin.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYThe Answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative, but the matter will be considered in the event of an opportunity occurring. Nothing is known of any preferential treatment of French goods on the steamers on the Red River or on the railways in Tonkin.