Mr. Looker asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when ther, in view of the state of affaire™ existing in China of the increasing disregard of international obliga 1%, a8 evidenced by the breach of the loan agreement relating to the revenue of the salt gabelle, and.of the fact that there is not now any central Government existing or any immediate prospect of a central Government whose authority will be universally recognized, he will approach the creat Pawons-wiy—were—Signatories" to. the Washington Treaty to secure an exchange of Niews as to the policy it is now desirable to pursu Sir A. Chamberlain: The serious state of affairs in China, and the Lreaches of international obligations to which the hon. member refers, have engaged the anxious at~ tention of His Majesty's Government for some time past, The ficulties are greatly increased by the fact that, as there is no central Government, it is not po! deal with these matter the ordinary charm Majesty's Government have taken Full account of these difficulties in the instructions sent to His Majesty's Minister at Peking, who 1 in clove touch with the delegates of the other Powers attending the Tariff Conference, and i9 also acting in ce-operation with the repre-cantatives of the Powers more nearly affected by the attack on the salt administration at Tientsin For the present His Majesty's Government are of opinion that no useful purpose would be served by any more formal consultation with the Powers who were signatories to the Washington Treaty.
Mr. Rhys asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the amount of reserve funds in the, banks to meet the service of loan' guaranteed on the salt gabelle in China; and whether these reserves have been drawn on hitherto?
Sit A. Chamberlain: I understand that these reserve funds, which amounted in 1925 to some $7,000,000 have not so far teen seriously drawn upon, but I em still awaiting more precise dé- ails from Peking.
Sir Federick: Are those American dollars, or silver dollars?
A. Chamberlain: My hon. friend is quite entitled to ask what a most reasonable question, but Tam ashamed to confess that without reference I cannot answer it.
British, American, and J
Representatives Commander Bellairs asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the rank of the British, American and Japanese representatives at Peking, and if'any, change of status is contentplateat 'The Secretary of State for' igo Affairs (Sir Austen Chianit fain): The tank, held. by, sentatives of the Powers nai
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.