§ Sir WILLIAM BULLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government are prepared to admit Japan's claim to be consulted as of right in the matter of the Chin Chow Aigun Railway; if so, in what manner could such an attitude be reconciled with the existing treaty obligations of both Japan and Great Britain regarding Manchuria; and whether Russia's claim to be consulted is based on any treaty or agreement with China, seeing that the railway, apart from the junction, would run throughout in Chinese territory and that Russia has no territorial interest whatsoever?
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§ Sir E. GREYIt is clearly not for His Majesty's Government to admit, deny, or define the rights and interests of other Powers in this matter, but to regulate their own action by their own treaty rights, obligations, and interests.