Reception to Local Press Representatives to Explain Delegates'
Functions: Chinese Members with Authority Equal to British: Chairman's Request for Ca-operation On Monday afternoon, the ers of the British China Indemnity Delegation were at home to the representatives of the foreign and Chinese press in Shanghai, at the Astor House, Lord Willingdon, chairman of the delegation presiding. During the afternoon, Lord Willingdon, addressing the' guests, said:—
'Under instructions from my col Teagues and on their behalf.as well as my own, I rise, as Chairman of the British' Boxer' Indemnity Deleation, to welcome the representa tives of the Press in Shanghai most cordially here this evening and to express, our satisfaction that. they have responded to our invitation in such a friendly spirit. I make the Jatter remark, for I can't help feeling that some of you may have wondered why our first invitation since we arrived ili China. should be sent to members of the Pres Let me assure you and reassure you on this matter by saying that We have no intention of trying to bribe you over a cup of tea, Tam fnelined to think that it should gake much stronger beverage if we wanted to succeed in such a pur-pos Clearing Up a Misunderstanding But I must honestly say that, apart from the pleasure of your company here, we have got a purpose in inviting you all here to-day. We, all six of us, have lived long enough in public life to know the great influence that the Press has on public opinion in any country. Tthink itis true to say that in. some quarters there has been a great deal of misconception as to what is the exact purpose of our Mission, some misunderstanding as to the rel position and authority of the British and Chinese members of our delegation, 'We have thought it well, therefore, to get out a statement which we hope is quite clear and which will get rid of all doubts as to the position, and we venture to request that' the representatives of the Press will be good enough to the statement such publicity they can, We ask you to-night to help us to get a fair start in our work. We don't expect to essay criticism, indeed I think we all feel that fait and reasonable criticism is stimulating and helpful. What we ask is, as I have said, that you should give us your valuable assistance in clearing away doubts which at present exist, T need not dilate on the matter, for the statement is, T hope, sufficiently clear. But, put very shortly, the six members of our delegation have equal status and authority in every respect. We are all members of the statutory committee in London, and have met here as a delegation from that committee to inquire into how best the British Boxer Indemnity should be spent in the best interests of China and her people. The Committee in London consists of 11 memers, of whom we six fare now in China, If, as I. profoundly hope at' the end of our Iabours we produce an unanimous report, we shall then go to London and if my arithmetic is correct shall be in a powerful position in influencing the views of our col-Jeagues in England.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.