§ 16. Sir A. KNOXasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the extent of Communist activities above Hankow and particularly in Szechuan?
§ Sir J. SIMONCommunists who were driven into North-East Szechuan as a result of a campaign in 1932, commenced a general movement northwards at the beginning of this year. Some of them entered South-West Shensi and captured Ningkiang on the 6th February. After a successful campaign against Communists in Kiangsi and Fukien last year, a body 7 of them moved westward and some reached South Szechuan in February. An attempt to cross the Yangtse failed, and they are reported to have fallen back into Keeichow. Several Central Government divisions have already arrived in Szechuan.
§ Mr. COCKSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these are not Communists, but Distributivists; otherwise, Chinese diehards?