CO129-491 - Public Offices - 1925 — Page 321

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ASSOCIATE MEMBERS:

Dr. S. Lavington Hart. Hugh MacKenzie,

R. E. F. Peill,

F. C. Rose, C.§.I.

In the course of the Annual Report for 1924, Mr. E. C. Peters (Chair man of the General Committee), referring to the Boxer Indemnity, said. "In July last a Memorandum was received from Mr. K. W. Mounsey on the subject of the Boxer Indemnity. The scheme outlined in the Memoran dum provided for the application of the portion of the Boxer Indemnity au be remitted to Railway development in China. This scheme was supported by the Peking British Chamber of Commerce. Your Committee, however, were of the opinion that further Railway development under the present want of authority of the Central Government would only afford the various military Commanders further means of aggression and of obtaining funds. In view of the intense Bolshevist propaganda being carried on by the Soviet representatives in spite of Treaties, your committee are of opinion that the greatest benefit both to China and Great Britain can be obtained by applying sufficient funds for educational and medical purposes.

This decision was communicated to the Association of British Cham- bers at Shanghai, who replied, calling our attention to a Reuter cable stating that the Indemnity is to be devoted to educational purposes. A Committen has been formed which will decide, finally we hope, how the remaining portion of the British share of the Boxer Indemnity is to be settled.

Much has been said and written on the question of the education of Chinese on British lines, which is also luked up with that of the return of the unremitted portion of the Boxer Indemnity. At the Conference of British Chambers of Commerce in China in February last, the following resolution was passed:

"That this Conference urges that immediate steps be taken by H.M.'s Government to give practical effect to the intention which it has publicly announced to devote the British share of the outstanding portion of the Boxer Indemnity to purposes mutually beneficial to Great Britain and China, and strongly recommends that, peuding its final decision as to the allocation of the money, some portion of it may be placed at the disposal of the Education

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Committee of the Association of British Chambers of Commerce in China and Hongkeng, so as to render possible the continuation of the Chambers' grant in aid of British educational and medical institutions in China and the work which is dependent upon them.

Mr. Wolfers:- Mr. Chairman, Gentlemen, it is with a deep sense ol responsibility that I wish to move the following resolution:

RESOLUTION REGARDING THE REMISSION OF THE BRITISH

SHARE OF THE BOXER INDEMNITY.

This Chamber adheres to the principle of adequately supporting Bri- tish educational and medical institutions in China as advocated by the As sceiated British Chambers of Commerce at the Conferences held in Shanghai in February, 1923 and 1924.

It feels however, that after these needs have been fully met, the funds available will allow of further forms of beneficial service under British guidance or control, which will prove of immense value to the people of this land and ultimately to our own countrymen.

This Chamber sympathises with the desire to enlarge and improve the Chinese educational system, and regrets the serious lack of employment offered to students already trained, due largely to the unsatisfactory state of the country, which has become even more pronounced during the past

In view of the conditions actually obtaining in China, it cannot at present recommend the expenditure of funds by ou own Government on educational schemes other than those mentioned above.

year.

It seeks rather to help the country to recover economic and political stability, and towards this end it suggests to the Committee which is to be appointed that funds be given to assist:-

1.

CONSERVANCY AND RECLAMATION PLANS.

By correcting China's physical disabilities, perpetual disasters due to floods and famine will be averted, agriculture allowed to expand, the status of the people raised, and trade improved through increased purchasing power.