§ Mr. DALTONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any action was taken by British representatives in Shanghai to secure the holding of post-mortem examinations on the bodies of the unarmed Chinese students who were alleged to have been shot in the back in encounters with the armed municipal and Imperial forces in Shanghai; whether the report of the inquest in each case is to be published; and whether the negotiations now taking place in Pekin are being conducted in the 2544W absence of authenticated reports of this nature?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINA coroner's inquest was held publicly. The discussions at Peking are taking place in the light of information elicited at this inquest, at the trial of the agitators before the Mixed Court, and by the two enquiries held by the delegations sent by the Diplomatic Body and by the Chinese Government. I do not understand the mention in the question of Imperial forces. I am not aware of any encounter at Shanghai between Chinese and Imperial forces.
§ Colonel DAYasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of British volunteers who have been ordered to prepare for mobilisation in Hong Kong; and will he state if British nationals, in the disturbed areas of China, have been given the opportunity of leaving these areas under British protection?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe entire volunteer force 471 strong was mobilised at Hong Kong on the 21st of June. His Majesty's ships have been sent whenever possible to ports in disturbed areas, and in certain cases, as at Canton and Chinkiang, women and children have been sent away by steamer. Consular officers will warn missionaries to leave inland missions if they consider it advisable.