§ 2. Sir J. JARDINEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what railway agreements or understandings regarding railway development work by British subjects or British capital now exist between the British and Chinese Governments and are by both regarded as valid?
§ Lord ROBERT CECILHis Majesty's Government have no railway agreements with China, though the agreements signed with British syndicates are communicated to His Majesty's Legation. The Chinese Government have, moreover, promised us that certain railway concessions for which one British firm is negotiating shall, whether granted to that firm or not, be in any case reserved for British subjects.
§ Mr. WATTCould the right hon. Gentleman say whether these agreements are valid or not at the present time?
§ Lord ROBERT CECILThere are no agreements between the British and the Chinese Governments except the understanding of which I have already spoken, and that understanding, of course, is as valid as all other international understandings are.