§ 1. Sir J. D. REESasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Banque Industrielle loan of 75,000,000 francs, issued in Paris, is intended in part for the purchase of the undertaking of the China Merchants Steam Navigation Company, which would transfer Yangtze trade to French and German bottoms; if the Government of the latter Power has, as is believed, a large interest in the Banque Industrielle; and whether His Majesty's Government is prepared to acquiesce in the interposition of other nationalities in the affairs of the China Merchants Company?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Acland)As regards the first part of the question, I have no reason to believe that the Banque Industrielle are interested in the matter. As regards the second part, His Majesty's Government have no information. As regards the last part, I am unable to say more than that the affairs of the company are under consideration.