84. Mr. BECKETTasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has now received the full report of the evidence taken before the Mixed Court of Shanghai at the trial of the persons arrested in connection with the strike; and whether he can state what the decision of the Court was?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Ronald McNeill)A full report of the evidence taken before the Mixed Court at Shanghai has not yet been received. According to a telegraphic report the decision of the Court was as follows: Four of the ringleaders who were considered to have started the riot were remanded for one week; two were refused bail; the other two were allowed bail. The defendants were required to sign a personal bond to keep the peace in future.
Mr. BECKETTDid not the nominal punishments awarded at the trial suggest that the Court had a very high opinion of those who were before it?
§ Mr. McNEILLThe hon. Member is as well entitled to form his own inferences as any one else.
Mr. BECKETTYes, but arising out of that, will the right hon. Gentleman take the same steps that I have done to see the evidence before he draws his inferences?
§ Mr. McNEILLNo, Sir; I think that is unnecessary.
86. Mr. W. M. ADAMSONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the question of holding a new judicial investigation into the Shanghai shootings and as to the status of the Shanghai Municipality was discussed at the meeting of Ambassadors recently held at the Foreign Office; and, if so, whether it is contemplated that representatives of France, Japan, the United States, and Britain will take part in the investigation?
§ Mr. McNEILLI cannot as yet add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Sir R. Hamilton) on 16th July.