§ Baron de FORESTasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government has received from the Vice-Admiral in command of the China Squadron a recommendation that British troops should be landed in Chinese territory; and whether he can give the House an assurance that the Government has no 1632 intention of interfering in the manner suggested in the domestic disputes of the Chinese nation.
§ Mr. ACLANDBefore Shanghai passed into the hands of the revolutionary party the Commander-in-Chief of the China Squadron suggested that it might become necessary to land troops at Shanghai for the protection of foreign interests. He reported that the German and Japanese Admirals were making a similar suggestion to their Governments. His Majesty's Government, however, doubt the necessity of such action at present. In reply to the second part of the question, I would say that His Majesty's Government are restricting their action in China, and will continue to restrict it, to the protection of British lives and property, and of course of foreign lives and property in cases where vessels of the nationality concerned are not on the spot.