CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922 — Page 332

3A

REMISSION OF THE BOXER INDEMNITY.

Politically, remission would of course be helpful, though its political advantage to any one Power will be lessened if all the chief Powers remit at the same time. Should we be able in remitting to stipulate for the education of Chinese students on British lines with the money, and also to induce the Chinese to accept internal reforms in such matters as currency reform, unification of railways, disbandment of soldiers, &c., the combination of advantages secured for British political and economic interests may justify remission. Remission as a beau geste made at the British taxpayers' expense seems difficult to justify in present circumstances on political grounds alone.

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