§ 14. Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action has been taken as a result of the Report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the incidents of last May in Shanghai; whether such action included the tender of a cheque to the Pekin Government as an ex gratia payment to the relatives of the Chinese killed; whether that cheque has been refused; what was the ground of that refusal and whether he has any statement to make as to the possibility of terminating the ill-feeling which continues to exist in that locality?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINThe three Judges appointed to investigate the incident were unable to agree on a unanimous report. Their separate Reports were carefully considered by the diplomatic body at Peking; and the substance of them was communicated to the Shanghai Municipal Council. The majority of the Judges completely exonerated the police, but the Council decided, in the interests of harmonious relations with the Chinese, to accept the resignations of the Police Commissioner, as well as of the police inspector who had actually ordered the firing on 30th 1014 May. At the same time, the Council publicly expressed their regret at the loss of life which had occurred on 30th May, and, as a mark of sympathy with the wounded and with the relatives of those killed, tendered a cheque for 75,000 dollars to the senior Consul for transmission to the local Chinese authorities, to be distributed among those concerned as a compassionate grant. This cheque was returned early in January by the local authorities under instructions from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The reason given for this action was that the Ministry, through whom the offer should have been made, had not been consulted. Documents connected with the incident and with the Judicial Commission were published in Peking on 23rd December.
Let me add that in the meanwhile I hope that the policy of patient conciliation steadily followed by His Majesty's Government is tending gradually to remove the ill-feeling caused by the incident of 30th May, and to restore goodwill between the British and Chinese peoples.
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEDoes the right hon. Gentleman not think, in view of the fact that the Government has had to concede in the main the recommendations of the original diplomatic inquiry, that it would be much better, and come with better grace, had we taken the advice of that inquiry earlier, instead of appointing a judicial authority to re-examine the facts?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI do not, Sir. I cannot regret that this matter was referred to a judicial authority, and that we had a judicial authority to substantiate our decision to make known the facts.