§ MR. JOSEPH WALTONI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the Russian Government has demanded the dismissal of a British doctor from the position of health and quarantine officer at the treaty port of Niu-chwang, and that he should be replaced by a Russian naval doctor; and, if so, whether His Majesty's Government will insist, either alone or in concert with Japan and the United States of America, upon the retention of the British doctor.
§ The following Questions also appeared on the Paper.
§ MR. JOSEPH WALTONTo ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, seeing that the Manchurian Convention provided for the evacuation of Manchuria and the restoration of the Treaty Port of Niu-chwang by Russia to China on or before the 8th April, His Majesty's Government, in view of the failure of Russia to observe these 953 provisions, are making representations on the subject to the Chinese and Russian Governments, either alone or in concert with Japan and the United States of America, in order to secure the fulfilment of the assurances repeatedly given by Russia in regard to these questions.
§ MR. JOSEPH WALTONTo ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that the Russian Government are seeking to debar China from employing foreign mining experts other than Russian in Manchuria, Mongolia, and the Province of Chili, His Majesty's Government will, either alone or in concert with Japan and the United States of America, insist upon the maintenance of equality of opportunity for all nationalities.
§ LORD CRANBORNEAll three Questions refer to the evacuation of Manchuria. Since they were placed upon the Paper, the hon. Gentleman will have learnt from an answer which I gave yesterday, that His Majesty's Government are not yet in a position to give definite information. We have, however, received from sources the authority of which does not admit of doubt, confirmation of the statement that the Russian Government have announced that they have no knowledge of the reported Convention, and that they disclaim all intention of seeking for exclusive privileges in Manchuria, or departing from the assurances given in regard to that province.