§ 4. Mr. LOOKERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has approached the other Powers who were signatories to the Washington Agreement with a view to making joint proposals to the Chinese Government for safeguarding the interests and ensuring the preservation of the Chinese railways upon which, owing to military interference, all commercial traffic has practically ceased, while the rolling stock is fast disappearing and no repairs can be carried out to the permanent way; and, if not, will he consult the other Powers interested with a view to joint action being taken without loss of time?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINThe deterioration of the Chinese railways is due to civil war conditions. Joint action by the Powers to stop the civil war would involve a reversion of their agreed policy of non-intervention in China's domestic affairs, and would entail the use of armed force. It is not the intention of His Majesty's Government to advocate any such proposal.
§ Mr. TREVELYANCan the Powers do anything to prevent their nationals supplying the various sides with munitions?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINThere are Regulations about the importation of arms by sea, and I think our Regulations are enforced pretty strictly against our own nationals. I do not think there are any Regulations that effect a check on the importation of arms by land.
§ Mr. DALTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that recent visitors to China report that there is a great importation of arms from America, France and Italy by sea, and will he inquire into this matter?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINThey are not oar nationals, at any rate.
§ Mr. DALTONNo, Sir; but in view of the question relating to the interested Powers, could the right hon. Gentleman not make representations?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI do not feel inclined to take very active steps in this matter unless they can be applied to all frontiers, land as well as sea.