§ 44. Mr. LOOKERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is in a position to make any statement regarding the result of the mission to China to inquire as to the views held there regarding the application of the Boxer indemnity funds; and whether His Majesty's Government have assented to any departure from the principles laid down in the Chin% Indemnity (Application) Act?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Godfrey Locker-Lampson)The Report of the delegation to China will be submitted to the Buxton Advisory Committee at an early date. One of the delegation's recommendations has already been approved by the Committee and adopted in principle by His Majesty's Government, subject to Parliamentary approval. This is that, after the general lines of expenditure have been laid down, the control and administration of the fund should be entrusted to a joint board of trustees in China. The board would submit an annual statement of receipts and expenditure to the Governments of China, and Great Britain. This decision will render necessary an amendment of the Act, and legislation will be introduced in due course.
§ Mr. LOOKERWill the Report, after it has been submitted to the Advisory Committee, be made public? Will it be laid on the Table of the House, or in some other way be made available for consideration by Members of the House?
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONNo doubt it will be made public. Some of it has already been published.
§ Mr. SOMERVILLEWill there be Chinese members of the board referred to?
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONYes, Sir; there are going to be three, I think.