Unconfirmed reports have appeared recently in the Press of a loan to Peking by Great Britain, and it is satisfactory to learn that there is absolute contradiction of such rumours from the most authoritative quarter.
Following upon the rumours referred to, representatives of the Union of the Three Provinces, Anhui, Chekiang and Kiangsu, addressed a letter to the British Chamber of Commerce, stating that they had heard that a loan of £6, 000,000 was being made to the northern militarists, and pointing out that any such action would have the effect of prolonging civil war in the country.
On receipt of this communication the British Chamber of Commerce immediatel: made telegraphic inquiries in north China and in London, and have received information that there is no truth whatever the rumour.
A reply t> this effect has been givey to the Union of the Three Provinces. the increasing amount of news regarding the China situation which! has in recent months been received by European newspapers. It may' be pointed out that until recently these journals devoted a very small amount of space to events in China, and now, when greater interest is being displayed and the facts of the situation are more widely circulated, confidence has been undermined. To those who have become more or less inured to conditions in the country, the position of the stocks in question has a different aspect, judging by the focal sentiment.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.