§ 4. Sir WALTER de FRECEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any reports from China showing support from the British and Chinese to the project of building a railway for commercial development with the balance of the Boxer indemnity, the proceeds from the work of which should be devoted to education; whether the Government has received any official Report on the subject from His Majesty's Minister at Pekin; what is the opinion of the Chinese Government on the project; and what is the opinion of His Majesty's Government?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Ponsonby)A proposal of this kind has been brought to the notice of His Majesty's Government, but not from any official source. It will be submitted to the Committee which is to advise on the utilisation of the funds, and by whose opinion His Majesty's Government will be guided. I do not know what is the opinion of the Chinese Government.
§ Sir FREDRIC WISEWill the hon. Gentleman see that this money goes to the benefit of Britishers, either in China or in this country?