piratical acts against British ships on this particular route have been of almost constant occurrence for many years past, and whether be could not see his way to afford some protection to British ships frequenting these waters ?
Mr. Churchill: If the hon. gentleman will look at the Navy List he will see that we employ a considerable number of ships in the Far East, and the number has not been reduced during my term of office.
Mr. Lee Have British ships any protection on the 'West River on the route between Canton and Hongkong where piracy has been frequent ?
Mr. Churchill: Yes, so far as I am aware there are a number of gunboats employed for duty on the West River, and it is the crews of these gunboats which, on mobilisation, bring the battleships of the squadron up to full strength.
Monday, 15th June, 1914.
Mr. Stewart asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can say how many people lost their lives owing to the piracy of the Tai-on"; how many of these were British subjects; and whether, in view of the inadequate protection afforded by the British Admiralty, he can see his way to influence the Chinese Government to augment their service of revenue cruisers officered by Europeans?
The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Acland): I have no precise information as to the number of persons who lost their lives as a result of the "Tai-on" piracy. The Chinese and the British Naval and Colonial authorities are in communication with a view to concerting
58
measures for the protection of shipping in Southern Chinese waters,
Mr. Stewart: Is the hon. gentleman aware that the only river gunboats now are the " Sandpiper" and the "Robin," that they are both obsolete, and that should the "Triumph" be commissioned the crews of both gunboats will be absorbed by her and there will be no river gunboat available at all?
Mr. Acland: I will take note of what the hon. member says on the subject.
Thursday, 7th May, 1914.
CHINA (ANGLO-FRENCH INVEST-
MENT COMPANY).
Bir J. D. Rees asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether he will instruct the British Minister in China to use his good offices on behalf of the British share and debenture holders in the Anglo-French Investment Company, the direction of which is now passing into new, and into other than British, hands?
Sir E. Grey: I have no information on the matter beyond what has appeared in the Press, and it does not appear from that to be a case in which His Majesty's Minister could intervene.
Wednesday, 21st May, 1914.
CHINESE LOAN,
Mr. King asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been given to the proposed loan of £6,000,000 sterling to the Chinese Govern- ment which is to be advanced by the Bethlehem Steel Trust of the United States,
on the conditions that only one-third of the loan is to be paid in cash, and two-thirds are to be exclusively devoted to the construction of naval docks; whether correspondence on this proposal has passed between the United States Government and the Foreign Office; and what is the policy of his Majesty's Government in this connection.
No
Sir E. Grey: I have seen the reports in the Press; I have no information to the effect that the present Chinese Government intend to act as stated in the question. correspondence or communication on the subject has passed between the United States Government and His Majesty's Government, and we are taking no action.
Mr. King Will the right hon. gentle. man make certain inquiries in view of the very serious crippling of the power of China to perform her obligations, which this loan, if carried through, would imply ?
Sir E. Grey: That seems to me a matter for the United States Government and the Chinese Government.
Monday, 15th June, 1914.
BRITISH UNIVERSITY
AT HANKOW.
59
Mr. James Hogge asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether he has received a communication from the Edinburgh Chamber
of Commerce and manufacturers suggesting that £250,000 might be allocated from the amount of the Boxer Indemnity to establish
a
British university at Hankow; and whether he proposed to entertain the same?
Mr. Acland: The memorial from the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce referred to has been received, and is under consideration.
Tuesday, 16th June, 1914.
UNITED KINGDOM AND JAPAN (TREATY RIGHTS: COASTING TRADE).
Sir J. D. Rees asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the treaty of 1905 between the United Kingdom and the Japan postulates equal rights for commerce and industry of both nations; and, if so, whether the rigorous exclusion of British ships from, the coasting trade of Japan while subsidised Japanese vessels in such trade between Indian ports, and conduct a Japanese service exclusively between Calculta and Rangoon, is justified by the terms of the treaty?
Sir E. Grey As regards the first part of the question the hon. Member is presumably referring to Clause (b) of the Preamble to the 1905 Agreement between the United King- dom and Japan, which affirms the adherence of both Powers to the principle of equal opportunities for the commerce and industry of all nations in China. The coasting trade of the two countries is dealt with in Article 21 of the Treaty of Commerce and Navigation of 3rd April, 1911, which provides that the trade shall be regn- lated according to the laws of the United Kingdom and Japan respectively,
Thursday, 2nd July, 1914-
SHANTUNG RAILWAY EXTENSION
EFFECT OF GERMAN SPHERE OF INFLUENCE.
Sir J. D. Bees asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Germany has recently acquired the right to extend the proposed railway from Kaomi Suchowfu, and to finance any extension of
to
502