HC Deb 14 November 1927 vol 210 c604
10. Mr. THURTLE

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the reason for the refusal of the Government of India to allow the proposed medical mission of a non-political character to be sent to China?

Earl WINTERTON

The reasons for which facilities for the proposed medical mission to China were refused were firstly, that the grant of facilities for a party of British subjects to serve even as non-combatants with one or other of the contesting factions in the civil war in China would have been likely to be construed as a departure by His Majesty's Government from their attitude of strict impartiality; and, secondly, that, at a time when His Majesty's Government had caused all British subjects to be advised to withdraw from the interior of China, in order to avoid embarrassing incidents it was impossible to allow a considerable party of British subjects to proceed to those parts of China where such incidents would have been most likely to occur.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Is the Noble Lord aware that a British officer, General Stokes, is serving with an army of Chang Tso-Lin? Why is there this differentiation of treatment?

Mr. SPEAKER

That does not arise out of the question.