Sir GILBERT PARKER (for Mr. Rupert Guinness)asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that the value of the ore in sight of the Anhui mining concession connected with the London and China Syndicate has been valued at upwards of £836,000 by a competent firm of surveyors; and that the Imperial Chinese Government, having retarded the development of this property, is now offering £50,000 to buy out the concession; and what action His Majesty's Government propose to take, either by suggesting arbitration or by pressing the Chinese Government to fufil its obligations, to ensure that the right of British subjects which have already been acknowledged by His Majesty's Ministers in China shall be duly safeguarded?
§ Sir E. GREYI have been informed by the London and China Syndicate that the ore in sight has been valued at upwards of £836,000, but I am not in a position to say whether this statement is accurate or not. It is the case that the Chinese Government have made an offer of £50,000 to buy out the concession. The matter is now under consideration.
Sir GILBERT PARKERDoes the right hon. Gentleman consider that it is a question of the exact amount of the value of the ore, or whether it is that the rights of this company are being interfered with by the Chinese Government; and whether he does not consider it the duty of His Majesty's Government to protect the rights of British subjects in China?
§ Sir E. GREYIt is not a question of the value of the ore, but of the rights. The rights are not quite so simple as would appear.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIECan the right hon. Gentleman say how much the syndicate has paid for these rights?
§ Sir E. GREYNo, Sir. That is covered by the supplementary answer I have given. The rights, when you go into the whole history of the case, are not quite so simple.
Sir G. PARKERMay we assume that His Majesty's Government is at present making inquiries for the purpose of protecting the rights of British subjects, if that protection is their due?
§ Sir E. GREYThe case has been under consideration for a long time, and, in my opinion, is one that ought to be settled by a compromise, and the negotiations have not yet reached any result.
§ Mr. SWIFT MacNEILLWill the right hon. Gentleman take care to inform the House what was the original sum paid by this company for this concession?
§ Sir E. GREYIt would not be necessary to go into details of that kind if the matter was settled by agreement.
§ Lord BALCARRESIs it not a fact that this company has already spent more money in developing the estate than the Chinese Government has offered?
§ Sir E. GREYI am not aware that that is a fact, and with regard to the question of rights it must be borne in mind that the Chinese Government have put forward certain contentions on their own side as to whether all the obligations of the company have been fulfilled or not, and that is a matter for discussion.
§ Mr. MacNEILLWho are the directors of this company?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member must give notice of that question.