CO129-558-11 Mission of Sir F. Leith-Ross to China- proposals for a Hong Kong - China customs... 29-9-1936 - 30-12-1936 — Page 102

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of the Chinese Government had pessed on specifications

without attention to the question of quality, MR. ORDE

observed that they were unable to interfere and that the

real trouble was in China itself where there was no efficient

central control of railway policy. MR. BROWETT suggested

that the whole matter should be brought to the attention of

the well organised Locomotive Manufacturers' Association. He

agreed that it would be advisable, as Sir Edward Crowe

suggested, to weit until Lord Riverdale had given his comments

on the report from the Commercial Counsellor regarding the

alleged defects in the locomotives. MR. BROWITT and SIR

EDVARD CROWE undertook to examine the complaints and look

into the possibility of tightening up the present arrangements.

Suport of British SIR FREDERICK LEITH-ROSS said that he had been

Traders by

Diplomatic and surprised at the amount of complaint to the effect that the Consuler Services in Diplomatic end Consuler Cervices in Chine, particularly the China.

latter, failed to give traders support. It was difficult

to judge whether the compleints were justified but, if whet

he had been told wes true, the situation was unsatisfactory.

Many consular officers seemed to suffer from a feeling of

discouragement and lacked interest in their work. He

received the impression that very few spoke Chinese really

well, and he considered whether knowledge of Chinese was

essential. He had been surprised to find that the officers

did not know the leading Chinese bankers and business men

in their districts. He suggested the appointment of an

Inspector of Consulates and more frequent conferences with

the Head of the Mission.

SIR EDWARD CROWE said that steps had been taken recently

to improve conditions in the Service. Hitherto, only those

candidetes who took low places in the exemination had been

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