§ 90. Mr. STEWARTasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state the number of foreign troops at Tientsin and Peking in the special contingents for the protection of the Legations; whether there are any other foreign troops, including soldiers employed as guards for railways in Chinese territory; and, if so, will he state the total number and say whether there is any immediate probability of these forces being reduced?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Cecil Harmsworth)The combined strength of the foreign garrisons which are maintained, as the result of the Treaty of 1901, in North China, and from which the Legation guards are drawn is, according to my information, between four and five thousand, the British garrison consisting of one battalion of British Indian troops and a company of British troops. As regards the second 450 part of the hon. Member's question, there are garrisons of foreign troops in the various leased territories. The Japanese Government, moreover, maintain forces at Tsingtao, in South Manchuria, and at Hankow, as well as detachments serving as railway guards along the Shantung and Southern Manchurian railways. The same Power is supplying troops temporarily for the protection of certain points on the Chinese Eastern Railway. There are also small Consular guards at several places in the interior of China. I am unable to state the total number of these troops, nor can I express any view as to the probability of their immediate reduction.
§ Mr. STEWARTIs it the case that there are 4,000 Japanese troops at Hankow?
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHI do not think we have the exact details.