§ 52. Mr. STEWARTasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that, although no written communication has been received by His Majesty's Government from the Chinese Government since the formation of the new Consortium in October last, there have been many official conversations in Peking as well as a declaration by the Chinese Financial Minister to the American Minister and to the American Financial Representative; whether, under these circumstances, His Majesty's Government knows what is the point of view of China with regard to the Consortium; and whether, if it does, it will inform the House of its purport?
Mr. HARMSWORTHI do not know precisely to what official conversations and declaration the hon. Member refers. I am aware that there was much opposition and criticism in China when the Consortium first came into being, but that was to be foreseen, and was no doubt largely due to misinformation and misapprehension. The only authoritative pronouncement as to the attitude of the Chinese Government towards this subject is to be found in a published letter of the Chinese Minister of Finance to the Consortium representatives last November to the effect that China heartily welcomed such evidence of goodwill provided her-national freedom remained unimpaired.