CO129-501-2 Chinese situation- Boxer indemnity 5-2-1927 - 14-12-1927 — Page 39

-2-

39

his nominees who were in England at the time.

The Department demurred to one of the names submitted,

but agreed to send out invitations to the remainder and were

preparing to do so when the relevant papers reached me in the

country.

Meanwhile a

I was somewhat exercised at the idea of continuing ac-

tively to constitute this Committee in present circumstances

and at once informed the Department of my views.

further telegram arrived from Peking, No. 1280 of the 25th of

August (copy enclosed), informing us that Sir M. Lampson had

not,

as stated in Mr. O'Malley's earlier telegram, sent out the

invitations to the Chinese members, and suggesting that for the

present any further action should be suspended in order to

allow the very unstable and uncertain local situation time to

clear.

This suggestion was entirely endorsed by Austen

Chamberlain as well as by myself and I thereupon addressed a

further minute to the Department, a copy of which I enclose

for your information, together with the Department's reply.

There being general agreement as regards suspension of

further action in the circumstances, our telegram No. 537 of

the/