suggested that a further sum of £15,000 should be
put aside to cover certain outstanding debts due
to the University from the Chinese Government
in respect of scholarships.
112
Since the matter was originally taken up with the Chinese there has been a good deal of
correspondence about procedure and also about
certain difficulties connected with the expenditure
of the money on Railways which are not of immediate
After the negotiations had been going on
concern.
for some weeks Sir C. Clementi telegraphed (in No.39) asking for a deferment of the final decision
until the arrival of his despatch of 9th of May
(now received, No.50). It was felt to be quite
impossible to accede to this request and after
discussion with the Foreign Office the reasons
why it was impossible were explained to Sir C.
Clementi in our telegram of the 28th of May (No.42).
Since then, with Sir M. Lampson's telegram enclosed
in No.47 and the Foreign Office reply, of which we
have not yet received a copy, negotiations have
moved a stage nearer completion and the considerations
referred to in No.42 are of even greater force.