§ 9 Mr. RAMSDENasked (1) the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his Department has recommended a small subsidy to the sole British commercial paper, the "Ch'eng Pao," which is published in China; whether he is aware that the British Authorities in China are in favour of this course; that of the seven Chinese newspapers in Shanghai five are on the Japanese register, one is American, and the seventh is a purely Chinese paper subsidised by one of the parties in Pekin; (2) the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether the Consular Service in China has recommended financial assistance to the continuation of the British paper "Ch'eng Pao," which is a non-profit making paper published in China for the benefit of British trade, and which did such invaluable service in the War; (3) the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state the reasons actuating the Department in refusing the sum of £6,000 as assistance to the continuation of the "Ch'eng Pao," the sole British commercial propagandist paper in China?
Mr. HARMSWORTHHaving regard to the existence in China of a large and wealthy British community directly interested in commercial propaganda, it is not thought that a subsidy or guarantee from public funds would now be justified. If, however, a local resident in Shanghai 1578 is successful in continuing the paper as a business venture on his own account, as is proposed, arrangements have been made to subscribe for a certain number of copies to be distributed among the Consulates. This course is in accordance with a recommendation from His Majesty's Consul-General in Shanghai.