§ Sir W. de FRECEasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Consortium has received any request from China for loans for railway construction; and the attitude of the Powers concerned towards any Chinese proposal for foreign assistance of this particular nature?
§ Mr. McNEILLI am not aware of any request having been received by the Consortium from China for loans for railway construction. His Majesty's Government, and, I have no doubt, the other Consortium Powers also, will gladly do anything they properly can to facilitate railway construction in China on being satisfied that a reasonable standard of efficiency will be maintained on both existing and future railways, and that they will be placed on a sound financial footing.