§ Sir W. de FRECEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, the terms of the agreement reached with China over the disposal of the accrued Boxer indemnity; how many other countries interested equally with ourselves have settled with China the question of their share of the indemnity; when and how in each case; whether the United States have returned their share unconditionally to China, and when; and whether the Government propose to introduce legislation to give effect to our agreement with China?
Mr. A. HENDERSONNo agreement has yet been concluded. A draft agreement has been initialled by His Majesty's Minister in China and the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs, and is under consideration by the two Governments. There are certain outstanding points which have not yet been settled. I am, therefore, not yet in a position to state any terms of agreement. Agreements have been concluded with China by the United States of America, France, Japan, Belgium, Italy and the Soviet Union providing 2167W for the disposal of their respective shares of the indemnity, on various dates between 30th March, 1923, and 8th December, 1927. The United States Government finally remitted their share of the indemnity on 16th July, 1925, but not unconditionally. It will be necessary to introduce legislation to give effect to the agreement between this country and China when it is reached. Before this is done I propose to include particulars of the arrangements made by other countries in a White Paper to be laid before the House.