§ 6. Mr. ARTHUR MICHAEL SAMUELasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will ascertain from the Chinese Government whether that Government has placed the bonds of the Tientsin-Pukow and the Hu-Kuang Railways as a charge on the maritime Customs in accordance with its contract to British subjects who subscribed to the loans of those railways, in view of the fact that there has been a revision of the Chinese tariffs and an abolition of likin?
Mr. A. HENDERSONThe proposals tabled by the Chinese representatives at the Conference, which opened in Nanking in November, seemed to point in the direction which the hon. Member desires. These loans cannot, however, be treated independently of the other obligations of the Chinese Government, and I think it will be better not to anticipate the deliberations of the Conference at which they are being considered.
§ Mr. SAMUELWill the right hon. Gentleman arrange with the Chinese authorities for an agreement to be arrived at before the Third Reading of the China Indemnity (Application) Bill, and will he be prepared to make a statement if I again raise these questions on the Report stage?
Mr. HENDERSONI am afraid I cannot comply with the first part of the hon. Member's request, to hold the Bill up until that agreement has been reached, but, if the hon. Member raises a Debate, we will be prepared to reply.