And to-night at the _commencement of our labours, on behalf of my colleagues and myself, I ask for ce-operation from the people of China in assisting us to come to such decisions as are best calculated give permanent benefit to their Without, that ce-operation we may. not be able to achieve all we desire; with it Tr hope and believe that we may achieve something which: may prove to be: a" further binding link of friendship and goodwilltbetween our two races, and help to sweep: away those clouds - of unrest and unsettlement which have so grievously affected this country in recent years, Mr. Francis Zia replied 10 Lord Willingdon, on behalf of the Chinese press, expressing the hope that the Commission would keep the press fally informed as to its purpose and activities. In the free diseussion which followed it was made clear that although the Committee now in China consisted of six out of, 11 members, they had a clear majority and if they unanimously agreed on the report to the full committee, it was not likely that they would be over-ruled by the minority.
Mr, Zia asked whether the committee was here entirely in an advisory capacity and if so, whether the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs could reject its recommendations. Lord Willingdon explained, in reply, that his committee was solely advisory, but he doubted very seriously whether a report made by the full committee of IL members would be rejected. Although Lord Willingdon did not enter into a lengthy statement on this subject, all present seme be satisfied' that public opinion would always be behind a committee which represented experts both Chinese and foreign.
Dr. V, K. Ting explained to the Chinese pressmen present that he accepted appointment on the only tration was entirely another matter, to which consideration would have to be given at another time.
Lord Willingdon's remarks were translated into Chinese by Dr. Hu Shih.
The Statement to the Press state mi issued to the press At the meeting, the following
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.