77
that the scheme should be procceded with as soon as
possible, is ready to stand down. No British members
have as yet been approached, and no steps will be taken
to obtain them until the question of the Chinese members
is settled.
The policy of the Foreign Office, therefore, for
the present, is to continue leisurely with the constitution
of the Provisional Committee and to wait on events before
deciding whether the Committee's recommendations regarding
the use of the Indemnity Funds require any modification.
The Foreign Office desire to carry out the recommendations
of the Advisory Committee, if they can possibly b9
reconciled with the existing state of affairs in China.
A question on the subject was asked in Parliament
on July 6th by Major General Sir Alfred Knox, N..
enquired what was now the total amount of the Tund and
whether the Secretary of State, after consultation with the
Advisory Committee, would use this sum to compensate
British Nationals robbed at Hankow, Nanking and other
Places in China. In reply Mr. G. Looker-Lampson stated
that the total Fund must now amount to nearly £2,000,000;
but that the Advisory Committee, having submitted their
recommendations, could hardly be expected to revise them
in favour of an entirely different policy.
F. ASHTON-GWATKIN
Secretary.