asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that, shortly after the recent disturbances occurred in Peking, the Soviet envoy to the Chinese Government caused loopholes to be made in the wall dividing the British and Russian Legation quarters; and whether he will take the steps necessary to safeguard the British Legation in view of the serious menace, in certain contingencies, to its security owing to this having taken place?

No official report of this nature has reached me. But it may be safely assumed that His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking has taken all possible steps to assure the safety of the British Legation.

Is it not a fact that recently, during some of the disturbances in China, British residents have received protection from troops attached to the Russian Consulate?

I could not answer that without notice. I should have to look at the records.