§ 62. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Foreign Legations at Peking maintain guards for their defence; whether these guards are armed; whether the British Legation maintains such armed guards; whether munitions are kept at our Legation in Peking for its defence; and whether Chinese troops and armed police are permitted to enter the Legation quarter at Peking?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINLegation guards are maintained in Peking by Great Britain, France, Italy, Japan, and the United States of America. The answers to the second, third and fourth parts of the question are in the affirmative. As regards the fifth part of the question, Chinese troops and police are not permitted to enter the Legation quarter unless the authorisation of the Ministers representing the Powers party to the Protocol of 1901 has first been obtained.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYDoes that mean that if a raid took place at the British Legation, munitions would be found?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINObviously a legation guard implies the presence of munitions.