§ Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Hankow authorities are in default in the payment of interest on the municipal debentures?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINInterest for the first half of 1928 was duly paid, and on 31st December last interest was paid in full for the second half of 1928, together with that for the second half of 1927 which was in arrears. There is, therefore, now no default except in respect of the interest for the first half of 1927, which was paid in depreciated notes of the Hankow Central Bank. No final decision has been taken by the Municipal Council with regard to this, but the Minister of Finance of the national Government recently announced that he was undertaking measures for the eventual redemption of these depreciated notes.