§ Mr. Arthur Greenwood(by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister whether he has any statement to make with regard to the stopping of the Japanese steamship "Asama Mara" by a British warship and the removal of some German passengers?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. I am now in a position to make a report to the House on the negotiations which have been proceeding between His Majesty's Government and the Japanese Government in connection with the removal of certain Germans from the Japanese steamship "Asama Maru" by one of His Majesty's ships. The correspondence which has passed between the two Governments on this matter will be laid before the House to-night.
41 It has been found, upon investigation into the training and antecedents of the 21 men removed from this Japanese vessel, that some of them are relatively unsuitable for military service, and, while reserving all their legal rights, His Majesty's Government are accordingly prepared to release nine of these men, who will be handed over to the proper Japanese authorities in due course. Meanwhile, the Japanese shipping companies have been instructed that they should in future refuse passage to any individual of a belligerent country who is embodied in the armed forces or is suspected of being so embodied. While His Majesty's Government have maintained their view of the legal position in this matter, it is anticipated that such incidents as that in connection with the "Asama Maru" will be avoided in future.