§ Mr. LOUIS SMITHasked the Under-secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the names of the six members of the China Purchasing Commission; and whether, if they are not yet appointed, 1466W he proposes to expedite their appointment in order to ensure the early expenditure of the money which is placed at their disposal under the China Indemnity Bill for the purchase of railway material?
§ Mr. DALTONThe Chinese Minister in London and a representative of the Chinese Ministry of Railways will be the Chinese members of the Commission. The remaining four members, who will be British, will be selected by the Chinese Government from a panel of names which my right hon. Friend hopes to be able to submit to them shortly. A number of gentlemen have already been good enough to intimate their willingness to serve on the Commission if selected by the Chinese Government, but my right hon. Friend is not authorised to state their names at this stage. The Commission cannot be formally constituted and start work until after the China Indemnity (Application) Act has received the Royal Assent. Every effort will be made to avoid delay in constituting it.