§ Earl WINTERTONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he was aware that the arrangement come to between Great Britain and Russia in 1899 regarding railway concessions north of the Great Wall and in the Yangtse Valley referred to concessions only; and, under 6 these circumstances, in what way could that arrangement regulate the attitude of His Majesty's Government regarding the proposed Chinchow-Aigun Railway, which China proposed to build by contract, and for which no concession of any sort was given?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThere is nothing in the Agreement referred to in the question which affects the right of China to build what railways she pleases for herself, but there is an understanding on behalf of Great Britain not to seek on behalf of British subjects or others any railway concessions in this region. I cannot, therefore, select such railways as a suitable field for diplomatic interference on the part of His Majesty's Government.