LORD HARRISasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, If it is the fact that the French Government have landed troops at Hansi in Annam, and for what purpose; and, whether there is any reason to suppose that the effect of such landing of troops will in any way affect the interests of British trade in those parts? The noble Lord said that, in asking the Question, he did not wish to imply that there was even a remote possibility of the friendly relations at present existing between this country and the Chinese Empire being strained, or that there was any cause to fear French competition; but Annam was on the South, as Corea was on the North, a tributary of China, and he believed there was reason to fear that the encroachment of European Powers on either of those tributaries might lead to complications with China, which complications might affect our large and increasing trade in those seas.
THE EARL OF KIMBERLEY, in reply, said, it was quite true that French troops had attacked Hansi and captured it. The reason assigned was, that the position of the French in Annam had been endangered by the conduct of certain Mandarins. He was glad to be able to say that, in the opinion of Her Majesty's Government, this would not in any way affect or endanger the interests of British trade in that part of the world.