§ 19. Colonel FABERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state why the Deutsch-Asiatische Bank, which is the keystone of the German commerial system in China, has not been put into liquidation; and when it is likely to be so put?
Mr. BALFOURThe Chinese Government in August, 1917, immediately after China's declaration of war on the Central Powers took steps to put into liquidation the branches of the Deutsch-Asiatische Bank at Shanghai, Tientsin, Canton, and other places in China. Foreign banking experts were appointed by the Chinese Government to assist the Chinese officials entrusted with the liquidation proceedings. His Majesty's Government have, of course, no power to take action themselves in the direction suggested. The Allied representatives at Peking have called the attention of the Chinese Government to the inadequacy of the measures so far taken in regard to enemy property and businesses in China.