§ 9. Mr. LANSBURYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the diplomatic body which appointed a commission to examine the Shanghai situation was called in the usual manner by the doyen of the diplomatic body at Pekin or whether the commission was 390 appointed by representatives of a portion of the Powers concerned and the senior representative not consulted; and will the Reports of the commission be presented to the whole diplomatic body, including the representative of Russia?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe commission to examine the Shanghai situation was appointed by the representatives of the treaty Powers under the chairmanship of the senior representative (the Italian Minister), and the commission has reported to the body which appointed it.
§ Mr. LANSBURYIs there any Russian representative on this body?
§ Mr. TREVELYANWas the Russian representative not present because he did not want to be present?
§ Mr. LANSBURYIs not Russia represented at Pekin by an Ambassador, and has not she diplomatic relationships with China, and therefore should be represented on a Commission of this kind?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe answer to the first two questions is in the affirmative and to the last in the negative.
§ Mr. LANSBURYWhy should the Russian representative be excluded, seeing that he is an accredited representative accepted by the Chinese Government?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINFor the reason I have already twice given, that Russia is not one of the Treaty Powers.
§ Mr. LANSBURYWhy, in a matter of international concern, should the one great Power that has done justice to the Chinese people be excluded?
§ Mr. SPEAKERSir William Lane Mitchell.
§ Mr. MACLEAN rose—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThis is not a time for speeches.
§ Mr. MACLEANI do not wish to make a speech, but to ask a question. Why was this Commission limited to the Treaty Powers?