The Consortium in China, Tokio, Feb. 23."
Sir Charles dis, Chairman of the Hongkong & Shanghai Bank, was given a banquet this evening at the Bankers' Club by Mr. Kajiwara, President of the Yokohama Specie Bank. Various prominent people attended, including Count Uchida, the Foreign Minister. officials of the Finance Department and of Japanese banks interested in Chinese loans.—Reuter.
Scrsrviston or Loans.
Tokio, March In the course of the banquet, Sir Charles Addis made in the main the following statement The relations between Japan and Great Britain are very close, and I am confident that the friendship will last long. Tacit manta] agreements are better than written agreements. In this sense, the Consortium is to be considered as an indication of the spirit of international ce-operation displayed at the Washington Conference. The Consortium has changed the _financial policy of the Chinese Government and has done much that is profitable to the Chinese people at large. I have heard the rumour, that the Consortium is not, at all popular with the Chinese, but we have done nothing we ara ashamed of. We have demanded proper supervision from the Chinese Government with regard to the use of loans advanced by us with the.sole view to the furtherance of the wellbeing and interests of the Chinese people in general.' Such right of supervision is also essential for the protection of the interests of foreign shareholders. The Consortium will never rush forward but await an opportune moment.
There are people who say, "Start your business" or "Obtain recognition," but from whom can we obtain recognition? Does it mean recognition by a new Government of China? Is there any Government in China from whom we are able to secure reliable recognition? The most dangerous thing in_the present state of affairs in China is that the administration of that country is monopolized by a few politicians. Unless responsible business men come forward and endeavour to maintain administration by reforming the corrupt government, public opinion in China cannot make itself felt. We are convinced. however, that the Chinese people have ability enough to save their own country politically. We rather entertain, a Goop doubt as to the advisability of interference by outsiders, _and the best way for us, as China's friend, is to keep from siding with any political parties there.—Eastern News Agency.
Toxto, Feb. 97.—The House of Representatives late last. night rejected the Universal Male Suffrage bil! by 243 to.147 votes.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.