Peking, Feb. 11.
At yesterday's meeting of the Cabinet—the first at which all the Ministers were present—there was a lengthy discussion on the question of the country's finances. The funds at present available, consisting of the December Salt Surplus of $3,600,000 released by the Yoko-
Of) dabenitures from jthe Chinese banks, being unsufficient, after paying off the recent Treasury debentures, for the full payment of the troops, police and officials, the Cabinet therefore decided to pay a certain percentage only. Even this is only possible in and around Peking, so that there will be no funds at present for provincial military and administrative expenses. The January Salt' Surplus may be released in two or -three days' time and then it will be possible to pay the Paotingfu and Loyang troops. 4 The Cabinet decided that, if the officials of any Ministry threatened to strike, owing to the lack of pay, they would be dismissed.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.