§ Mr. Dribergasked the Minister of Food if he will give an estimate, based on the maximum quantities of rice, wheat, etc., known at present to be available or obtainable in the near future from Siam and elsewhere, and on the precedents afforded by other famines in recent years, of the number of persons likely to die of starvation during the present year in the rice-consuming countries of the East.
§ Sir B. SmithStatistical data are insufficient notably as regards China, to make any such assessment.