§ 10. Sir ROBERT GOWERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Commission representing the Powers which has investigated the disorders at Shanghai has issued its Report; if so, what the recommendations contained in such Report are; and whether he has any statement to make concerning the matter?
§ 2. Mr. FORRESTasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the findings of the mixed Commission inquiring into the shooting at Shanghai, together with the personnel of that body, and the attitude of His Majesty's Government towards such findings?
§ 12. Mr. TREVELYANasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the diplomatic Commission appointed from Pekin has yet reported on the Shanghai disturbances; and, if so, how soon the Report will be made public?
§ 15. Mr. DALTONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the nature of the strictures contained in the Report of the diplomatic Committee of Inquiry into recent events at Shanghai upon the conduct of Mr. MacEwan, the British Chief of Police; and whether the British representative on the Committee concurred in the findings of his colleagues?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe composition of the diplomatic Commission was stated in the replies given to the hon. Members for Acton (Sir H. Brittain) and Tottenham North (Mr. R. Morrison) on the 1st and 6th of July. That Commission has returned to Peking, and the action to be taken on their Report, the terms of which I am not prepared to make public at present, is under consideration.
§ Mr. TREVELYANDoes the right hon. Gentleman not think it desirable to have the terms of the Report as soon as possible, in view of the fact that the Press of various countries contains very large and, apparently, circumstantial reports of what has taken place, and is it desirable that there should be any doubt remaining?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI think that there are limits to the extent to which Governments can be called upon to produce information because enterprising journalists surmise what the information would be if it were given.
§ Mr. HARRISIs it not possible that other Governments may publish this Report, as it has been communicated to other Governments?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI hope that if there is publication of any evidence, it will be publication in all countries simultaneously.
§ Mr. LANSBURYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that certain portions of the evidence have already been published, and might it not be to the public advantage that the whole of the evidence should be laid on the table, so that there should be no conflict between us as to what evidence was actually given?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI think the hon. Member is not referring to the inquiry to which the questions refer, but to the inquiry that was held in open court.
16. Mr. W. M. ADAMSONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to the evidence taken before the Mixed Court at Shanghai regarding the shootings on 30th May and 1st June; whether he is aware that Inspector Everson, who ordered the shooting, and other policemen, admitted in their evidence that the inspector warned the crowd in front of the police station by calling out "Stop, stop!" in Chinese and English, and holding up his pistol; that only a few of the crowd of 2,000 students, workers and spectators could have heard his words or seen his gesture; that the shootings began 10 seconds after the warning was given; and that no blank cartridges were used and no attempt was made to shoot in the legs; whether he has also seen the evidence to the effect that no violence was being offered by the crowd, who were endeavouring to disperse, and medical evidence that some of the dead and injured were shot from behind; and whether, in view of the situation which has arisen as a result of these happenings, he will forthwith publish the Report of the Mixed Commission, which has also investigated the shooting, in order that its recommendations may be acted on?
§ 20. Mr. SCRYMGEOURasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now aware of the evidence in the Mixed Court proceedings at Shanghai that the demonstrators gathered before the police station on 30tE May were entirely unarmed; that the police officer who gave the order to fire admitted that the students were six feet away when the police started shooting; that he gave the order in English; that the shooting began 10 seconds after the warning had been given, and that more than 40 bullets were fired, the firing lasting for several minutes; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe full Report of the evidence taken before the Mixed Court has not yet reached me. The Diplomatic Commission reported to the representatives of the Treaty Powers at Peking, and the action to be taken on the Report is under consideration. The Report itself has not yet reached me.
Mr. ADAMSONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Chinese translation issued in this country shows that the inspector admitted in his evidence that he had no knowledge that warning must be given before shooting; and I would like to ask the hon. Gentleman as to when he will be able to give us this Report for the consideration of the House?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI think the Report to which the hon. Gentleman refers appeared in the Chinese Press, and is a report of the commencement of the inquiry and as to the people killed. The mail which brought the commencement of that Report has not brought the end. I think I ought to see the whole of the evidence before I say anything more. A Report was made by the diplomatic representatives to the diplomatic body at Shanghai; whether it was made in writing or verbally, I do not know. But in any case, that Report has not reached me.
§ Mr. SCRYMGEOURHave not the proceedings of this Mixed Court already been completed, and, if so, why should not we have the benefit of them?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINYes, Sir. The proceedings have been completed. But the mail which will bring the Report of the conclusion of the proceedings has not yet reached this country.
§ Colonel GRETTONMay we have an assurance that His Majesty's Government will not countenance any repetition of the Dyer case?
Mr. BECKETTWhen does the right hon. Gentleman expect to have the Report? Will it be laid before the House; and what power has the right hon. Gentleman to take disciplinary action, if necessary, on it?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Gentleman had better put that question down.
17. Mr. ADAMSONalso asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that members of the Shanghai Municipal Council police force stated before the mixed tribunal, at the trial of the students arrested in connection with the shootings of 30th May and 1st June, that they occupied and searched Shanghai University at the order of Colonel Gordon, the commandant of the Settlement Volunteer Corps; whether Colonel Gordon is the military commander at Shanghai; whether he is a regular British Army officer; whether he is responsible to the Shanghai Municipal Council or acts on his own responsibility; and what authority he has to issue instructions to the Settlement police?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINColonel W. F. L. Gordon is an officer of the British Army seconded for service as Commandant of the Shanghai Volunteer Corps. He is responsible to the Municipal Council of the International Settlement at Shanghai. As already explained, the complete Report of the evidence given at the trial before the Mixed Court has not yet reached this country, and I am, therefore, unable to reply to the further points raised in this question.
Mr. BECKETTMay I inquire if it is competent for a military officer, on his own authority, to occupy private buildings without the mandate of the civil power?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe hon. Member's question is based on the assumption of a fact which I neither confirm nor deny.
§ Mr. MACKINDERIn view of the very great interest that has been taken in the 1259 House and the country, can the right hon. Gentleman promise to lay papers relating to all these matters?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI certainly desire to give the House as full information of the matter as I can. I hope, however, the House will not ask me to answer questions when the information has not reached me or is in my possession, nor to express any opinion on matters on which I am not fully informed. I trust hon. Members will remember that this is not a matter arising in a British Colony, but in an international settlement, and that I have to act—and it is important I should act—in agreement with other Powers.