§ 1. Sir J. D. REESasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Germany has recently acquired the right to extend the proposed railway from Kaomi to Suchowfu, and to finance any extension of the proposed line westwards from Tsinanfu; and, if so, whether this will enable Germany to extend her sphere of influence beyond Shantung, to which she has hitherto been confined by the Kiaochau Convention?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir Edward Grey)The answer is in the affirmative. I cannot say whether the extension will have the effect suggested, but in any case it is a matter which concerns the German and Chinese Governments and I am not aware that there is any Convention that debars Germany from obtaining a railway concession outside Shantung.