HC Deb 26 April 1927 vol 205 cc665-8
46. Miss LAWRENCE

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the consular body at Shanghai has received any complaint from the Consul of the Union of Socialist Soviet Republics to the effect that no letters or telegrams are allowed to reach the Consulate; and whether it is proposed to make any representations to the municipality on the subject?

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

My right hon. Friend has received no report of any such complaint.

Miss LAWRENCE

Will the hon. Gentleman undertake to communicate with the Shanghai Municipal Council with a view to ascertaining the truth of the repeated statements which have appeared in the Press to this effect?

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

The municipal body is an independent body over which we have no control at all. The incident to which the hon. Lady refers was fully described in the House by my right hon. Friend.

Miss LAWRENCE

Is it not the Minister's position that the Shanghai Municipal Council is in a position to commit acts of war against a friendly nation, and has the Shanghai Municipal Council any authority by Treaty to take any part in international affairs?

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

On the contrary, I understand that the action of the Municipal Council the other day was taken very largely at the request of the Soviet Consul himself.

Sir COOPER RAWSON

Has this question anything at all to do with His Majesty's Government?

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

A million a month!