Peking, July 4.
The International Group of Bankers are daily expecting to receive a reply from Europe concerning the loan negotiations. Hsiung Hsi-ling, Minis ter of Finance, persists in his refusal to accept foreign supervision of the salt gabelle auloss the International Group should compromise matters considerably.
There is every prospect of a rupture.
It is understood that the Belgian Syndicate offers an advance of £2,000,- 000 with " further amount of £4,000,- 000 at a later date, but the terms offered are not so favourable as those offered by the International Group. It is plain that Hsiung Hei-ling is weary of the negotiations and desires to retire. In the event of a rupture with the International group the Bourees of Europe will, undoubtedly, be closed against a Chinese loan arranged with any competitors.—Reuter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.