HC Deb 01 July 1925 vol 185 cc2493-5
4. Mr. FOOT MITCHELL

asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the lack of information from the Far East, he will state exactly what the 13 demands by the Chinese Government in connection with the shooting at Shanghai really are; and if any of them have been approved by the British Government?

20. Mr. TREVELYAN

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can give the full text of the 13 demands made by the Chinese Government to the diplomatic body at Pekin?

Mr. A. CHAMBERLAIN

The 13 demands are as follow:

  1. (1) Cancellation of state of emergency.
  2. (2) Release of all Chinese arrested in connection with the incident and restoration to original state of all educational institutions in the international settlement sealed and occupied by the authorities.
  3. (3) Punishment of offenders to be suspended pending investigations and thereafter to be seriously dealt with.
  4. (4) Compensation for the damage sustained by the labourers, merchants and students in connection with this incident.
  5. (5) Apology.
  6. (6) Rendition of Mixed Court.
  7. (7) All employés of foreigners, seamen and workers of mills or factories and others who turned out on strike in sympathy shall be re-instated and their wages during the period of the strike shall not be deducted.
  8. (8) Better conditions for the labourers. Any labourer may work or not on his own accord and shall not be punishable for refusal to work.
    9. 2494
  9. (9) Municipal franchise.
    1. (a) The Chinese may participate in the municipal council and the ratepayers' meetings, the ratepayers' representation in the council shall be in proportion to the amount of the rate payable and paid to the municipal revenue, and the qualifications for franchise of the Chinese shall be similar to those of the foreigners.
    2. (b) For the purpose of the franchise distinction shall be made as to the beneficial and trust or legal interests of property, with the beneficial interest the right of franchise shall accompany and in the case of the trust interest, such right shall be exercised by the beneficial owner thereof.
  10. (10) Restraint to construct road beyond boundaries. The Shanghai Municipal Council shall not construct roads beyond the settlement boundaries. Those roads which are already so constructed shall be unconditionally handed over to the Chinese Government.
  11. (11) Withdrawal of the resolutions concerning printed matter; increase of wharfage dues and licensing of exchanges.
  12. (12) All Chinese residents of the settlement shall have liberty of speech, assembly and publication.
  13. (13) Dismissal of the secretary of the municipal council.
Until they have been examined by the diplomatic body, I prefer to make no comments.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

What is being done with regard to demand No. 8? Is the right hon. Gentleman having special inquiries made?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I think that is covered by a later question.

19. Mr. MACKINDER

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government has received two Notes from the Chinese Government, the first relating to the Shanghai incidents and containing 13 demands, and the second dealing with the general relations between China and Great Britain, and urging the revision of the treaties concerning extra-terri- toriality, concessions, and special privileges, on the grounds that they were out of date; whether he will immediately publish these Notes; and whether any reply has yet been sent?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the last part in the negative. The text of the 13 demands is given in my reply to a question to-day by the hon. Member for Saffron Walden, and summaries of the Notes will probably appear in the Press. I doubt whether it would be worth while to have them specially published as a Parliamentary Paper at this stage.

Mr. MACKINDER

In view of the fact of the great national interest taken in this matter, would it not be as well to know if we are to have an official Note published?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I think probably the time to publish a Note will be when the correspondence is completed.

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