-2-
39
his nominees who were in England at the time.
The Department demurred to one of the names submitted,
but agreed to send out invitations to the remainder and were
preparing to do so when the relevant papers reached me in the
country.
Meanwhile a
I was somewhat exercised at the idea of continuing ac-
tively to constitute this Committee in present circumstances
and at once informed the Department of my views.
further telegram arrived from Peking, No. 1280 of the 25th of
August (copy enclosed), informing us that Sir M. Lampson had
not,
as stated in Mr. O'Malley's earlier telegram, sent out the
invitations to the Chinese members, and suggesting that for the
present any further action should be suspended in order to
allow the very unstable and uncertain local situation time to
clear.
This suggestion was entirely endorsed by Austen
Chamberlain as well as by myself and I thereupon addressed a
further minute to the Department, a copy of which I enclose
for your information, together with the Department's reply.
There being general agreement as regards suspension of
further action in the circumstances, our telegram No. 537 of
the/