§ 4. Mr. YEOasked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs if the British Legation at Peking was consulted before the recent prosecution of Mr. Sheldon Ridge, the editor of the "National Review" at Shanghai, for having published in his paper an article criticising the Chinese policy of His Majesty's Government; whether it approved of such prosecution; and whether, seeing that the jury acquitted the defendant, steps will be taken to ensure such penal action in future only being taken with the approval and under the instructions of His Majesty's Minister at Peking?
§ Sir E. GREYAs regards the first part of the question, no report has been received from His Majesty's Minister in regard to the prosecution referred to, and I am, therefore, unable to say whether it had his approval. I would point out, however, that it is no part of the duties of His Majesty's Minister to direct the institution of proceedings in the Consular Courts in China, the responsibility for which rests with the Crown Advocate. His Majesty's Government do not contemplate making any change in this arrangement.