§ Commander MARSDENasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state approximately how much of the year is spent in Peking and Nanking respectively, by His Majesty's Ambassador in China, and by the chief diplomatic representatives of Japan, United States of America, France, and Italy; and whether any of these nations have their diplomatic headquarters in China at Nanking?
§ Sir S. HOAREI have no exact particulars, but broadly speaking Peking having been until now the headquarters of His Majesty's representatives, more of his time is spent there than in Nanking. The tendency is, however, for his visits to Nanking to increase in frequency and length, and the accommodation available there should soon be such as to enable him to spend a larger part of the year there. I have no detailed information regarding the movements of the representatives in China of the other Powers mentioned by my hon. and gallant Friend. None of these representatives, so far as I am aware, maintain their headquarters at Nanking.