§ 5. Mr. MOLTENOasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the present position of the negotiations between China and Japan; whether the demand on the part of Japan that half the ammunition used by China should be manufactured in Japan or under Japanese control in China is being pressed; and whether this claim is consistent with the treaty between Great Britain and Japan providing for the maintenance of the integrity and independence of China?
§ 6 Mr. RUPERT GWYNNEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether he has obtained or is obtaining from the British representatives in China expert advice as to the anticipated effect on British trade, commerce, and industry of the new Japanese demands, more especially in the valley of the Yangtse and in the South-East of China; (2) whether equality of commercial opportunity in China is still the fundamental principle of British policy in respect to that country; if so, whether it is proposed to agree to the earmarking of any one or more of the eighteen provinces of China for exclusive exploitation by any individual Power; and (3) whether he has received any representations either from the British representatives or from the British trading community at Hong Kong with respect to the proposed Japanese exclusive exploitation in South-East China; and, if not, whether, before taking any action in connection therewith, he will obtain it?
§ 9 Mr. NEEDHAMasked (1) whether the present Japanese demands on China will affect the treaty between England and Japan respecting China; (2) whether the right hon. Gentleman has received from chambers of commerce in this country and from representative bodies of British traders in China and Hong Kong any expressions of opinion on the Japanese demands; whether he will lay copies of such communications upon the Table of this House; and (3) whether the consent of the Powers having large trading relations with China will be necessary before any of the present demands by Japan can become operative?
§ 12 Sir WILLIAM BULLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether he can now communicate to the House the exact text of the Japanese demands to China; whether, in 157 case permission is necessary, he will ask this from the Governments concerned; (2) whether any representations have been made by the British Government either to China or Japan in connection with the demands put forward by Japan to China; if so, will he indicate their nature; and (3) whether he has received any representations from chambers of commerce in this country with regard to the Japanese demands to China; if so, whether he can state their nature?
§ 15. Mr. SNOWDENasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has received a copy of the original demands recently made by Japan on China, and if he will publish a list of these demands; will he state now if these demands included a request for railway, mining, and special privileges in Eastern Mongolia which would prevent other nations from obtaining similar rights within the territory; if Japan demanded a voice in the local administration of Manchuria and a monopoly of commercial and trading privileges which would effectively close the door to other nations; if Japan has demanded that she shall inherit the railway and mining rights hitherto held by Germany in Shantung, and in addition claims other privileges which will make this province a closed domain for Japanese enterprise; if Japan has asked for what amounts to a monopoly of the iron and coal deposits in the Yangtze valley, and has demanded railway privileges which would divert traffic from lines now being built with British capital; if, in addition, Japan has demanded a dominant voice in the administration of important internal affairs of China, such as that Japan shall furnish at least one-half the supply of war munitions which China may require; if it be the view of the British Foreign Office that, these demands made by Japan are consistent with the terms of the Anglo-Japanese Treaty which guarantees the independence of China, and requires the open door and equal opportunities for both nations; and if he will state what amount of national independence will be left to China if the demands of Japan are imposed upon her?
§ 17 and 18. Mr. CHARLES DUNCANasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether, in view of the fact that British policy in the Far East champions equal commercial opportunity for all nations, he will do his best to 158 ensure that this doctrine applies to munitions of war which may in future be needed by China; and (2) whether any claim has been put forward by Japan for the privileged supply of munitions of war to China; and whether, if that is so, he will state the policy of the British Government on this point?
§ 19. Mr. YEOasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the importance to British trade of the Japanese demands, diplomatic action of a friendly nature will now be taken by this country to secure participation in the Chino-Japanese negotiations now in progress in Peking?
§ 20. Mr. PETOasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of one of the Japanese demands to China, it is consonant with the principles and preamble of the Anglo-Japanese Treaty to suggest the earmarking of any province in China for the special or sole industrial exploitation of any nation?
21. Mr. GORDON HARVEYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can assure the House that, in any arrangements that may be come to in the negotiations now going on between Japan and China, he will endeavour to secure the open door for British commerce in all parts of the Chinese Empire?
§ Sir E. GREYI would ask the hon. Members in whose names these questions appear to-day on the subject of the negotiations at Peking between China and Japan to accept the following collective answer:—Hon. Members have already been informed in reply to questions on this subject that His Majesty's Government were not in a position to make statements in regard to these negotiations which are taking place between two other Powers. The negotiations not being yet concluded, the position as regards making statements in detail remains unchanged. Speaking generally, however, I may say that the policy of His Majesty's Government in China continues to be governed by the terms of the existing Agreement between the United Kingdom and Japan, namely: the preservation of the common interests of all Powers in China by ensuring the independence and integrity of the Chinese Republic, and the principle of equal opportunities for the commerce and industry of all nations in China. Beyond this, the replies to the various 159 subjects referred to in the individual questions may be briefly summarised by stating that His Majesty's Government are constantly in communication with His Majesty's representatives in China and Japan, and are in touch with commercial bodies interested both at home and in the Far East on the subject of these negotiations. It is not, however, proposed to lay copies of communications with the latter on the Table of the House—which, moreover, would serve no useful purpose. Hon. Members may rest assured that in the future, as in the past, His Majesty's Government will endeavour to secure the open door for British commerce in all parts of China.