§ 3. Sir J. D. REESasked if the right hon. Gentleman will state what has been the result of his correspondence with His Majesty's Minister at Peking regarding the inability of the Chinese Government to secure freedom for the sale of the large stocks of Indian opium now accumulated at treaty ports, and held up, contrary to treaty rights, to the loss of the merchants and others concerned?
§ Mr. ACLANDHis Majesty's Minister at Peking has, under instructions from His Majesty's Government, made repeated protests against the resrictions imposed on the trade in Indian opium in several provinces of China contrary to treaty rights. The Chinese Government have in reply undertaken to send the necessary instructions to the provincial authorities to withdraw the objectionable restrictions, but I 2635 regret to have to state that up to the present these instructions have had little, if any, effect. Further representations have been made both by Sir John Jordan in Peking and by the Secretary of State to the Chinese representative here.
§ Sir J. D. REESIn view of the acknowledged impotence of the Chinese Government, what steps do the Foreign Office propose to take to protect British merchants?
§ Mr. ACLANDSteps have been taken already, and further steps will be taken if necessary.