CO129-507-1 Proposal to dispose of Boxer Indemnity funds- claim by Hong Kong university 21-12-1927 - 24-7-1928 — Page 128

12.

130

amount to some 323,000,000, though it is difficult to esti

rate the amount of the 1987 claims in respect of such in-

cidents as the Nanking outrages, the Chinking and Chungking

lootings, et cetera. From this total would have to be

deducted, however, all non-admitted claims, including

probably the native agency elaime and many others, To

meet these olaims, we have the funds in the suspense

account at the end of 1927, namely £2,227,500, increasing

at the rate of 234,427 a month plus interests There is

therefore good reasén to believe that, if we should ever

come to deal with the matter on these lines, the LOGUMI-

lated funds in the suspense account would be found suf-

fieient to meet the admitted claims and debts.

16. As regards the ethios of such a proposal as I

have ventilated above, it is possible to urge that the pay-

ment of zämitted claims and debts owed by the Chinese Govern-

ment to British subjects is essentially a purpose mutually

beneficial to China and Great Britain. These olaims and

debts have got to be settled sooner or later, and in the

last resort they are owing from the Chinese people to

the British people, As all loan obligations would be

excluded