EARL of RONALDSHAYI beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs a Question, of which I have given him private notice: If his attention has been called to telegrams appearing in the Press in which it is stated that, as a result of the infringement by China of certain of the provisions of the Treaty of St. Peters-burgh of 1881, Russian troops are being mobilised on the Chinese Frontier in the neighbourhood of Kuldja; and has he any information upon the matter which he can give to the House?
The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. McKinnon Wood)The matter is one which concerns Russia and China, and I cannot add to the information about the difficulty which has been made public. Negotiations are proceeding between Russia and China, and I have no reason to suppose that a satisfactory settlement will not be reached.
Sir GILBERT PARKERMay I ask if the Foreign Office does not keep itself informed on questions of difficulty between foreign nations which must in their action affect British interests and the interests of other Powers contiguous to the scene?