§ EARL SPENCERI am not sure whether the noble Marquess has any further information to communicate with reference to the answer he was good enough to give to me the other day about Wei-hai-Wei.
§ * THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (The Marquess of LANSDOWNE)A telegram was sent from the Admiralty with reference to the story of Wei-hai-Wei being used as a base of attack upon Port Arthur by the Japanese fleet. It was dated 12th February and was as follows—
Admiralty to Commander-in-Chief, China Station. Rumour current in St. Petersburg causing great exasperation that Wei-hai-Wei, with Great Britain's connivance, was used by Japanese as a base for attack on Port Arthur. Important that His Majesty's Government should be in a position to give absolute contradiction. Report without delay.The Admiralty has now received the following answer—Hong-kong, February 12, 1904. Rumour absolutely without foundation. Wei-hai-Wei did not even know operations were proceeding until I telegraphed fight. First intimation of operations came through Chefoo from steamer calling there from Port Arthur. Wei-hai-Wei's first direct knowledge of belligerent proceedings was the visit of steamer "Fuping" to report circumstances of her being fired on. Air out here is full of baseless rumour obviously deliberately concocted.The "Fuping," as the noble Earl will remember, is the steamer which was fired at as she was leaving Port Arthur.