§ 21. Mr. THURTLEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if any warning was issued to British nationals to withdraw from Nanking; and, if so, on what date was such warning first issued?
§ 28. Mr. MOSLEYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will state if any warning was given to 2049 the British residents in Nanking advising them to evacuate that city; if so, on what date the warning was given: and what steps were taken to assist the evacuation?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI will answer these questions together. On 20th March His Majesty's Consul-General at Nanking advised that all British women and children who could leave the port should do so with as little delay as possible. The evacuation was carried out in accordance with a scheme already prepared, but I have no information as to its details. By the evening of 22nd March only six British women remained in Nanking.
§ Mr. THURTLEIn view of the possibility of fighting taking place in Nanking, can the right hon. Gentleman say why warning was not given to British nationals earlier than 20th March?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI am afraid it was because too much faith was placed on the assurances which we had received from the Chinese.
§ Mr. MOSLEYWas no warning given to the inhabitants of Nanking on 1st November last, as stated previously by the right hon. Gentleman?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI have no recollection of it, but if I have stated previously that a warning was given on 1st November, I have no doubt that I was correctly informed, and that it was correct.
§ Colonel DAYCan the right hon. Gentleman say how many women and children left Nanking?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI am not sure that I have that figure; certainly I have not got it with me now.
§ 22. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government has yet decided upon its course of action with regard to the injuries suffered by foreigners, including our own nationals, in Nanking, and, if so, what action is contemplated; whether combined action is being taken in conjunction with other Governments, and, if so, with which Governments, or are we taking independent action; and whether the offer of General Chiang-Kai-Shek to pay compen- 2050 sation and damages for the outrages at Nanking is to be accepted?
§ 29 and 30. Mr. RENNIE SMITHasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) what action he proposes to take in consequence of the recent disturbances which have taken place at Nanking;
(2) whether he can see his way to recommend the appointment of an international body, through the League of Nations, to inquire into the recent losses of life and property in Nanking?
§ 33. Mr. VIANTasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, seeing that the slight difference in uniform worn by the soldiers of the Cantonese armies and that worn in the Northern armies may have led to confusion between the two armies and the soldiers belonging to them, he will reconsider his decision not to have an inquiry into the recent events at Nanking?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI hope that the hon. Members concerned will allow me to deal with these questions in the debate, when I shall be prepared to give as full an answer as is at present possible.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYOf course, I had put down this question before the debate was decided on; but can the right hon. Gentleman inform me whether the terms of the Note to the Cantonese Government have been drawn up, and whether he can give them to the House during the debate this afternoon?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI will give what information I can to the House, but it will be very limited.
§ 24. Mr. PONSONBYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in order to avoid precipitating a dangerous situation and further increasing the animosity which has arisen between the Cantonese Government and the Powers concerned in the incidents reported from Nanking, His Majesty's Government will invite the intervention of the League of Nations?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Members for Penistone (Mr. Rennie Smith) and Peckham (Mr. Dalton) on 16th February, to which I have nothing to add.
§ 32. Mr. STAMFORDasked tie Secretary of State for Foreign. Affairs whether Captain Spear, who was one of the British subjects wounded at Nanking, was employed on intelligence work; what was the nature of the work; and by what department he is employed?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Sir Laming Worthington- Evans)I have been asked to reply. Captain Spear is the intelligence officer of the 20th Indian Infantry Brigade operating under the command of General Duncan at Shanghai.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask how it was that this gentleman was at Nanking at all, in view of the condition of affairs at Nanking?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSHe was there in pursuance of his duty.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYYes, but is it usual when you send an army to an International Settlement to send intelligence officers all over the country? [HON. MEMBERS: "Answer !"]
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSHe was there in pursuance of his duty.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODAre we to understand that all over China there are persons of this nature in pursuance of this duty?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSNo, Sir. The hon. and gallant Member is to understand that Captain Spear was at Nanking in pursuance of his duty.
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSIs not Nanking a treaty port in which we have certain rights?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSIt certainly was a treaty port.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs it not a fact that the more intelligence the Army has at its disposal the better?
§ 100. Mr. RENNIE SMITHasked the Secretary of State for War whether the warships which shelled Nanking were a part of the defence force sent recently from this country or whether they were part of the normal naval forces kept in Chinese waters?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Bridgeman)I have been asked to reply. Only one British warship, H.M.S. "Emerald" opened 2052 fire at Nanking. The "Emerald" is one of the vessels sent from the East Indies Station to reinforce the China Squadron.
§ 103. Sir FRANK NELSONasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of false reports being circulated in regard to recent happenings in Nanking, he will consider taking suitable action against the authors or publishers of the same?
§ Sir H. BARNSTONThese reports were very fully dealt with by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on Monday and there can be no excuse for their further circulation. Such misstatements are deplorable, but they are not illegal, and my right hon. Friend is not in a position to take action against those responsible for them.