The National Organizations Union of China, whose headquarters are in the Rue Amiral Bayle, sends us a copy of a letter to the Diplomatic Body in Peking protesting against loans to the Chinese Government. Two or three sentences must suffice In summer, last year, our friendly countries announced that no country should supply money, or war implements to China before solution of her situation, But to our surprise, we learn from the press that the New Consortium has been positively formed at New Yor and Mr. Stephens of Morgan's Syndicate has been appointed representative.
The Peking Government, taking advantage of the surrender of Tsen Chun-hsuan ard Lu Yung-ting, attempts to blind our friendly countries with the name of "Unification" and play the same game as before with the New Consortium—to swindle money for the private ends of Hsu Shih-chang and the militarists and officials.
Thus, if the New Consortium lend money to China in this critical time. it is equivalent to giving arms to the militarists and officials that may butcher our people. We our friendly coun cil not do so, be-ase a good wi will turn into a bad one in result.
The National Organizations Union may be assured that the New Consortium is a good deal bert informed about China than th: think and that no money would be lent without adequate security against the sort of thing they fear. But this assurance has been given many times with no apparent results. There are many influences working against the Consortium in China, some it is to be feared, for their own end, others, like the one here quoted, sincerely enough. Their arguments are wrong as regards the Consortium, but one begins to wonder whether, in the present circumstances, it would not be best for the latter to refuse all loans (unless for famine relief) until the present Administration mends or ends.
What is a Talon Nothing but sympathy can be felt for "Straphanger," who, in his letter published to-day, asks. "What is a Talon, and why is it?" The answer to this is, however, easier to be found than that to the old question of "why is a mouse when it spins?" and a little research gave us the information which our. correspondent desires. A "talon" is the last portion of a sheet of coupons—a series of interest certificates or dividend warrants attached to a bond running for a number of years—entitling the holder when all the coupons have Uecen presented to obtain a fresh coupon sheet. That is the sense in which it is used in the Tramway Co.'s notification. Another meaning of "talon" is "that part of a pack of cards remaining after the hands have been dealt: the stocks." That is what a talon is. Why it is, we don't know. but we hope that "Straphanger" will feel somewhat better for the small amount of aid we have been able to administer to his distress.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.