§ 27. Mr. MOREINGasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a definite scheme has yet been drawn up by the Chinese Government for the collective treatment of interest and amortisation on loans to Chinese railways; whether there is any prospect of a 17 systematic effort to liquidate the accumulated debt; and what revenues the Chinese Government is prepared to allocate for the purpose?
§ Mr. EDENThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. In his recently published report on the Chinese national finances the Minister of Finance stated that while circumstances had prevented much progress in dealing with the debts in arrears, the problem was one of the Chinese Government's serious preoccupations, and that as soon as the financial and economic situation slier-mated the negotiations begun in November, 1930, would he resumed. Pending further developments it is not possible to answer the last part of the question.
§ Mr. MOREINGCould my hon. Friend give me any information as to the proposals which he mentioned in the replies of July and December last year in regard to the Tientsin-Pukow Railway, and say whether they have progressed any further?