§ 5. Mr. NORMAN CRAIGasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make public the full text of the agreement of 9th March, 1912, and the provisional agreement of 17th May between the Government of the Republic of China and the four-Power group, giving in each case the names of the signatories to those agreements?
§ Mr. ACLANDThe agreements referred to were concluded between the Chinese Government and the representatives of the four groups at Peking, and I am not in a position to publish them. They could only be published with the consent of other members of the groups and the Chinese Government.
§ Mr. NORMAN CRAIGArising out of the hon. Gentleman's answer, does he not recognise that the agreements of private firms or companies are translated from the region of private to that of public business, when they rest upon the support of Governments?
§ Mr. ACLANDNo, I am afraid not. While negotiations are still proceeding it is, I think, both fair and desirable that the text of agreements should not be published.
§ Mr. NORMAN CRAIGWill the hon. Gentleman tell the House the position of the negotiations, which appear to be proceeding indefinitely?
§ Mr. ACLANDWill the hon. Member put a question down?
6. EARL of RONALDSHAYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that the published correspondence concerning the progress of the revolution in China stops short at the end of December, 1911, in the middle of the negotiations between Tong Shao-yi and Wu Ting-fang; and, in view of the importance of events in China subsequent to December, 1911, will he now lay further Papers upon the Table of the House?
§ Mr. ACLANDFurther correspondence will very shortly be presented to Parliament.