19 JANUARY 1929, Page 18

SIR FRANCIS'ALLEN AND THE 'CHINESE GOVERNMENT

[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]

You kindly permit me to correct a statement which appeared in the News of the.-Week summary of your issue of January 12th ? Referring to a recent appointment made by the Chinese GoN;ernnient, you state : " Mr. Edwardes was never supported by the ehinese on the-trivial ground that he was the

nominee of Sir Francis Aglen, whom the Nanking Government

had dismissed." --.

. I was not dismissed by the Nanking Government. Mr. Edwardes, who was in temporary charge of the Inspectorate-Gen Aral during my short, absence from Peking in January, 1927, was appointed by the Peking Government to succeed me. His appointment as officiating Inspector-General was later confirmed by the Nanking Government. He has himself given his reasons for resigning this appointment in his published letter to the Chinese Minister of. Finance.—I am,