§ 1. Mr. NEWMANasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he can give any information as regards the breakdown in the loan negotiations between the Chinese Republic and the six-Power group; and whether, in the event of the Republic resuming negotiations on a fresh basis, the fact that more than 50 per cent. of her export and import trade is conducted with the Empire will constitute an adequate reason for preferential terms being asked for on behalf of British financial firms?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Acland)I am not aware that the loan negotiations have broken down, but, should they for any cause be temporarily suspended, I have no reason to suppose that, as far as the mutual relations of the groups are concerned, they would not be resumed on much the same basis as before and preferential terms for one nation as against the others in the matter of loans based on the ground suggested would be quite impracticable.