§ Mr. H. WILLIAMS (by Private Notice)asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any official reports confirming the statements that documents have been discovered by the Peking Government implicating the Soviet Government in anti-British propaganda in China; and if so, what steps, if any, he proposes to take?
§ Sir WILLIAM DAVISON (by Private Notice)asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the documents which have just been seized by the Northern Chinese Government on the premises of the Russian Soviet Embassy at Peking, proving that the Soviet representatives were not only conspiring against the Government to which they were accredited, but were distributing money and arms and issuing propaganda for mob attacks upon foreigners, especially those who were British subjects; and whether action will now be taken to terminate the Trade Agreement in view of this further breach of the express terms of that Agreement?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI have been notified that documents of the nature described were seized in the Legation Quarter at Peking by the Chinese authorities, but until those documents have been thoroughly examined, I am unable to say what action His Majesty's Government will consider it desirable to take in this connection.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs the hon. Gentleman aware that an official resume of some of the documents has been issued stating that no care need be taken in mob violence 669 for British subjects, as the British Government are not likely to do anything but issue words, whereas Japan is very likely to resort to force?
§ Mr. W. THORNEWhat about your neutrality now?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYBefore taking any action in this matter, will the Government be satisfied as to the genuineness of these documents? Is it not a fact that they were discovered by the Chinese police with no one else present to see who put them there?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI have already said that a very careful examination of these documents is taking place.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYBy Whom?
§ Mr. MACQUISTENWould not the presence of British police be a breach of neutrality?