CO129-512-4 Boxer Indemnity Settlement 22-12-1928 - 9-5-1929 — Page 125

In any further communication on this subject, please quote

No. 506/57/10

and address-

not to any person by name,

but to-

66

The Under-Secretary of State,"

Foreign Office,

London, S.W.1.

Immediate and Secret.

Sir,

124

FOREIGN OFFICE.

S..1.

30th January, 1929.

With reference to your letter 62708/29 of

January 26th, I am directed by Secretary Sir Austen

Chamberlain to state, regarding the telegram which it

is proposed to address to the Governor of Hong Kong on

the subject of the Boxer Indemnity, that, although the

draft enclosed in your letter embodies the suggestion

which it is proposed, subject to Treasury concurrence,

to submit shortly for Sir M. Lampson's views it is still

under consideration whether it will in the end be desirable

to ask the Chinese for such detailed assurances as are

contained therein, especially with regard to the imposing

of a definite and public obligation on the Chinese Government

to purchase British materials only out of the Indemnity

funds.

Sir M. Lampson's attention will probably be called

to certain objections to this course which may lead to the

necessity for reconsideration of this particular point.

2. Sir Austen Chamberlain would therefore suggest the

following alterations in the telegram which is to be sent to

the Governor of Hong Kong. Instead of "An endeavour will,

"however, be made to secure from the Chinese Government an

"understanding that", he would prefer :- "Sir L. Lampson

"will shortly be consulted as to the possibility and best

"means of obtaining from the Chinese Government an under-

"standing that".

The Under Secretary of State,

Colonial Office.

3.