1. Mr. Wedderburnasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government are prepared to give any further assistance towards medical aid for war victims in China?
§ The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Eden)Yes, Sir. His Majesty's Government have agreed to make a further grant-in-aid of £30,000 for the maintenance of medical and surgical teams for work among Chinese troops and civilians in the war zones of China in co-operation with the Chinese Red Cross and the Chinese medical services. The grant on this occasion will be made direct to the Friends' Ambulance Unit, who have been responsible for the work carried out with the assistance of the grant-in-aid of £50,000 voted in 1941 and 1942 to the British Fund for the Relief of Distress in China. Application will be made to Parliament in due course for the provision of the necessary funds.
Mr. WedderburnWill it be necessary to convert any of this money into Chinese dollars, and, if so, will my right hon. Friend convert it at the ordinary rate of exchange or any special rate that may be allowed?
§ Mr. EdenI am not sure about the rate, but I understand the position to be that the Chinese Government signified their readiness to make a contribution of 50 per cent. over and above this contribution to any funds that are paid to the Red Cross.