§ 13. Mr. RENNIE SMITHasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can give the House any particulars with regard to the understanding which has been reached between the Governments of Great Britain and Japan concerning common action in relation to mutual interests in China?
§ 11. Sir NICHOLAS GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is in a position to make a statement as to the conversations with the Japanese Government on the subject of diplomatic co-operation in China?
12. Mr. L'ESTRANGE MALONEasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can make any statement concerning the progress of conversations between Great Britain and Japan in regard to joint policy in China?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINRelations between Great Britain and Japan with regard to China are based on the obligations of full and frank communication specified in Article 7 of the Washington-China Treaty of 1922, and on the fact that Japan and Great Britain have much larger interests in China than have the other Washington Powers. In these circumstances, the two Governments have agreed informally that the close contact which they desire to maintain can best be promoted and developed by constant communication and consultation between their respective Ministers at Peking. The two Ministers, being each fully informed of the views of his colleague's Government in regard to every new problem as it arises, will then be in a position to consider whether a common course of action is desirable or not, and if not, to understand and explain the reasons to their Governments. There are no conversations proceeding between the two Governments regarding China other than this informal exchange of information and views which takes place at Peking and which will, I hope, be continued. This arrangement is not a new departure but a natural consequence of the Washington obligations. Similar conversations and consultation take place between His Majesty's Minister and the Ministers of other Powers at Peking. The general lines of British policy in China were laid down in our declarations of December, 1926, and January, 1927, to which we adhere.
§ Mr. SMITHCan the Foreign Secretary say whether the United States have been consulted and what is their view with regard to these arrangements?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINNo, Sir. There has been no consultation with any- 396 body, but our Minister in Peking communicates with the representative of the United States in that capital; and that I think is the best channel through which we can co-ordinate wherever co-ordination is possible and desirable our policy with that of the United States, Japan and other Powers.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODMay we take it for certain that there is the same consultation and co-operation with America that we now understand there is with Japan? May we take it that there is no sort of differentiation or preferential treatment given to the Japanese Government and the Japanese policy in China?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINCertainly. From the first day I met the Ambassadors of the Powers concerned, it has been my earnest desire to work in harmony both with the United States and Japan with respect to our common interests in China.
§ Mr. SAKLATVALAThe Foreign Secretary has explained that the same policy is carried out by conversations with—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is not asking a question.
§ Mr. SAKLATVALAWill the right hon. Gentleman tell us if our Minister in Peking is not first instructed from Whitehall as to what policy he shall pursue when holding those conversations with the Japanese Ambassador?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINCertainly, His Majesty's representative in China receives instructions from our Government as all our representatives abroad do, and he would not speak otherwise than as he believes His Majesty's Government would desire.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODCan the right hon. Gentleman assure us that the answer he has given will not he news at Washington?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINYes, I am quite sure that it will not be news to the Washington Government. The Washington Government are aware and must be aware of it. One of my first steps on taking my present office was to express the hope that we should pursue a common policy, or at any rate consult freely with other nations in regard to all our actions in China.