(F 131/57/10)
No. 15.
From CHINA
Desypher. Sir M. Lampson (Peking).
4th January, 1929.
D.
1.25 p.m.
4th January, 1929.
R.
9.00 a.m. 4th January, 1929.
52
As a result of my recent visit to Nanking two or
three matters seem to require more or less immediate
attention.
XX
Indemnity. As expected I was asked about this
but they seemed to take the point that domestic politics
on the eve of a general election might make it difficult
to pass amending act. They enquired whether we could not
at least now adopt suggestion of last year that Board of
Trustees should be nominated forthwith and get ahead with
preliminary work but without power to expend funds. I
undertook to submit this but said that the whole question
was under active consideration at home and I did not know
how far that idea was now suitable for application. Is
there any chance of the scheme of unconditional return of
( non-)accumulated funds being adopted? If not would you
be prepared to go ahead on lines now suggested by Chinese.
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Chinese at the moment are in receptive frame of mind
towards us and if we could get in with concrete proposals on
any or all the subjects mentioned above we might be able to
make headway.