§ 47. Mr. BARKERasked the Prime Minister whether he has received a telegram from the Union of Provincial Assemblies in China urging that the British share of the Boxer indemnity should be used for the advancement of education; whether he acquainted the British Advisory Committee in China of this recommendation; and whether His Majesty's Government are taking account of the Chinese objection to the retention in British hands of the allocation of the remitted funds?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Godfrey Locker-Lampson)I have been asked to reply. A letter dated the 1st June was received from this body and referred to the Foreign Office. In this letter the Union recommended that the funds should be applied to river conservancy railway construction, and educational and hygienic uplift of the labour class. The Union have been informed that their recommendations will be brought to the attention of the Buxton Advisory Committee. It was out of consideration for the Chinese views on the question of the control of these funds that the arrangements for their allocation, as explained in the official statement published in the Press on the 29th May, are being adopted.