§ Mr. MOREINGasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether by reason of recent legislation in China the foreign collectors of the branch salt revenue offices will be abolished; and what steps he has taken to ensure that payments due on the Anglo-French loan of 1908 and the British loans secured on the salt revenue are not thereby imperilled;
(2) How many British and other foreigners are affected by the new Chinese law abolishing the foreign staff of the branch offices of the salt revenue in China; and what compensation the Chinese Government are prepared to pay to the persons concerned for loss of office;
(3) whether he has received any report from His Majesty's Embassy in China on the new organic law of the directorate general of salt revenue?
§ Mr. EDENHis Majesty's Government have at present no information regarding recent legislation in China on this matter, His Majesty's Chargéd'Affaires at Peking has, however, been requested by telegraph to furnish a report on the subject.