HC Deb 13 December 1932 vol 273 c186
37. Mr. MANDER

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the regulation governing the disposal of the interest on the Boxer Indemnity Funds remitted by the British Government under which grants may be provided for the authors of text-books of middle and primary schools grade; and whether he will make representations to the Chinese Government that these grants should be devoted only to such works as are free from anti-foreign propaganda?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Eden)

My hon. Friend is no doubt aware that the provision of the grants to which he refers lies with the Board of Trustees. I see no reason to anticipate that the board, one-third of whose members are British subjects, will sanction expenditure from the indemnity funds upon grants to the authors of works devoted to anti-foreign propaganda. There is, therefore, no call to make representations to the Chinese Government previous to an event which I see no reason to anticipate.