§ Mr. SPEAKERI have a question from the Leader of the Opposition relating to certain events in Peking. There is a question on the Paper on that subject for Monday, but I understand that the hon. Member for Stroud (Sir F. Nelson), in whose name it appears, is willing to forgo his rights in that respect.
§ Sir FRANK NELSONindicated assent.
§ Mr. RAMSAY MacDONALDI am much obliged. It is only on account of the extreme urgency of the question that I venture to put it. I wish to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to what took place yesterday in Peking, when Legation territory is said to have been invaded by General Chang Tso-Lin's soldiers, and whether this was done with the concurrence of the Diplomatic Corps?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI am not yet in possession of any official information as to what took place yesterday in Peking. I am not therefore in a position to state whether the action taken by the Chinese authorities had the concurrence of the Diplomatic Corps.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWill the Under-Secretary have this information on Monday, for which day some of U3 have given notice of a question on this matter?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONThere is a certain amount of delay in telegraphic transmission, but we are expecting a report from Peking at any moment.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWas not the Foreign Office consulted at all before any authorisation was given for the invasion of this territory?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI have already said that we have not got any official information about the events. We must wait to get it before we can know what happened.
§ Sir F. NELSONShall I have the right to repeat my question on Monday, Mr. Speaker?
§ Mr. SPEAKERYes, certainly; the hon. Member can keep it on the Paper, and repeat it on Monday.
§ Mr. WALLHEADHave His Majesty's Government given permission to the British representative in Peking to join with other diplomats there in allowing this invasion of Legation territory?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI have already said that we have absolutely no official information as to what did occur. Surely it is better to wait until we have the information.
§ Mr. MacDONALDI must thank the hon. Member for Stroud (Sir F. Nelson) for his courtesy. I am sorry that I forgot to do so before.