12.—A brief reference in conclusion must be made to the series of domestic loans mostly floated by the Peking authorities for. purposes of either war against the South or corruption and bribery in connexion with sundry Presidential elections at Peking. In 1921, these loans were consolidated by the Peking Government and charged on the Customs and Salt Surplus and the Wine and Tobacco Revenues, the Inspector-General of Customs being placed in charge of the service thereof. The Diplomatic Body, in their reply of December 11, deals rather summarily with these loans thus:. the Corps Diplomatique are in no way concerned with the service of these loans which were instituted without their having been con-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.