Legations Fooled by Peking By Bruce Baxter, It not very long ago that we were informed that the Powers had declared their intention not to advance any money to the Chinese Government until peace has been restored to China. It now seems most likely that a £5,000,000 loan will be made to the Government in spite of the fact that the South and the North are no nearer together now than at the time the Powers made their declaration The Government has prophesied a complete collapse of government unless the loan is made, for it will be impossible to keep order in king without money. Great Britain, France, America and Japan have come forward with the promise of a loan to relieve Peking, that is, Great Britain, France and Japan have agreed to making the advance, for the answer from the United States has not as yet arrived in Peking.
The officials are now. anxiously awaiting a reply from their many cables to America, and believe that there can be no doubt of America's willingness to comply with the request for money, as the Peking Government will.' collapse without this financial aid, ang certainly America would not'be so cold-blooded as to allow unpaid soldiers to overrun Peking.
Tt does seem a pity that the great Powers have not got backbone enough to stick to their original declaration concerning loans to China before peace is restored.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.