§ LORD CHARLES BERESFORD (Woolwich)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs 92 whether he can state the date approximately that the Chinese indemnity bonds will be ready for distribution to private claimants.
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Lord CRANBORNE,) RochesterA scheme for the issue of bonds for the British share of the indemnity has been proposed by the British delegate on the commission of bankers at Shanghai and is under consideration by His Majesty's Minister at Peking. I am not yet able to say when the bonds will be ready for distribution. His Majesty's Government have, however, agreed that death claims of £100 and under shall be paid in cash out of the first half-yearly instalments, due on the 1st of July.