§ 9. Mr. THURTLEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the nature and quantity of arms and munitions supplied by Great Britain to the Shanghai Volunteer Corps; when the most recent supply was sent and of What it consisted; whether his attention has been drawn to the formation of a new organisation entitled the Temporary Reserve Unit of the Shanghai Municipal Police which is being given special training for use in the event of disorder arising out of strikes and whether he will state from whom the commandant of the Shanghai Volunteer Corps takes his instructions?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINThe following arms and ammunition have been supplied from this country since 1919:
The most recent supply, consisting at 200 Short Lee-Enfield rifles, was sent in April, 1925.
- 1,800 rifles.
- 100 bayonets.
- 20 Lewis machine guns.
- 14 Vickers' machine guns.
- 10 barrels for Maxim machine guns.
- 60,000 rounds.303-inch ball.
- 15,000 rounds.455-inch revolver, ball.
- 600 grenades, rifle.
- 600 cartridges, illuminating, one-inch.
For some years past a reserve unit has formed part of the Shanghai Municipal Police Force, but there is no information with regard to the formation of the new organisation to which the hon. Member refers. Under normal conditions the Commandant of the Shanghai Volunteer Corps takes his instructions from the Municipal Council of the International Settlement. In times of civil commotion, if circumstances necessitate the landing of Naval contingents for the protection of life and property, the senior naval officer then in port takes supreme command of all the defence forces, including the Volunteers.