ment that the first step towards: carrying this new policy into effect should be the immediate and unconditional grant of—Washington, surtaxes. Lest it be supposed that the grant of surtaxes may) favour one faction at the expense! of other and so provide a further} incentive to civil war, H. M. Government deem it important to point} out that as no conditions would be! attached to the grant, the proceeds of surtaxes would not necessarily be remitted by Commissioners of] Customs to the Custodian banks at! Shanghai, Itwould in each ease be for competent Chinese authorities, to decide all questions as to the disposition and banking of these addiional revenues. H. M. Government would be glad to learn at the earliest possible moment whether the Powers agree to the unconditional grant of Washington surtaxes.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.