§ MR. JOSEPH WALTON (Yorkshire, W. R., Barnsley)I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to withdraw the six British sloops and two British gunboats which have been engaged in patrolling the Yangtse River; I and, if so, whether he can state the grounds for this change of policy; and what other methods have been adopted for the protection of the lives and property and the upholding of British, interests in the Yangtse region.
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. PRETYMAN, Suffolk, Woodbridge)The patrol of the Yangtse is now carried out by six river gunboats which are exclusively employed on this service. The other vessels alluded to were not specially allotted for the Yangtse, but simply visited this river occasionally 945 in the ordinary course of cruising, and were neither necessary nor required for patrol purposes.
§ MR. JOSEPH WALTONDo I correctly understand that six British gunboats are now patrolling the Yangtse and will continue to be there?
§ MR. PRETYMANYes, Sir. They are stationed on the river.