§ 30. Captain W. BENNasked the Prime Minister whether the Government has received any communication from the Government of China with regard to the prospective renewal of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance; and, if so, what is the nature of the communication?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe answer is in the affirmative, but His Majesty's Government are not in a position at present to publish its terms.
§ Captain BENNHave the Chinese asked that the dispute regarding Shantung be referred to the League of Nations?
57. Mr. L. MALONEasked the Prime Minister whether any agreement or treaty between Great Britain and Japan is under consideration; whether any protest has been received from the Chinese Government in connection therewith, whether the Anglo-Japanese agreements of 1905 and 1911 infringed the integrity of Chinese territory without the consent of the Chinese Government; whether, since the signing of the Austrian Peace Treaty, China is not now a member of the League of Nations; and whether before any further treaties or agreements are made they will be referred to the League of Nations?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWith regard to the first part of the question, I have to refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given on the 3rd instant to the hon. Member for Lincoln. Similarly with regard to the second part of the question, I have to refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply already given to-day to the question put by the hon. and gallant Member for Leith. The answer to the third part of the question is in the negative, and to the fourth part that the Chinese Government have signed, but not yet ratified, the Treaty of Peace with Austria. The Covenant of the League of Nations is Part I of this Treaty. With regard to the fifth part of the question, His Majesty's Government have every intention of adhering strictly to Article XVIII. of the Covenant of the League of Nations.