§ 19. Captain GARRO-JONESasked the Secretary of State for War whether he has authorised the Officer Commanding the Shanghai Defence Force to resist the entry of any Chinese forces, victorious or defeated, into Shanghai?
§ Captain KINGIt is not in the public interest to disclose the terms of the instructions given to the General Officer Commanding the Shanghai Defence Force.
§ Captain GARRO-JONESDoes not this question go to the root of the foreign policy of the Government? How are the Government going to preserve their pledged policy of neutrality if the defeated army is to be allowed in and the victorious army refused admission?
76. Mr. BECKETTasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the reason for withdrawing from Shanghai a Punjabi batalion which arrived there a few weeks ago; and whether it will be followed by the withdrawal of the other troops recently landed at Shanghai?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Godfrey Locker-Lampson)I can make no further statement as to troop movements at present.
Mr. BECKETTCan the hon. Member not consider the very great danger of playing the Asiatic races one against the other in this way?
Sir CLEMENT KIINLOCH-COOKEIs the hon. Member aware that there is a rumour current that they are shelling Shanghai? Can he say whether that is true or not?
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI have no information.
§ 61. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give any estimate as to the monthly cost of the occupation of Shanghai by the present Shanghai Defence Force if that occupation be stabilised as at present; and whether any contribution towards this cost can be obtained from the beneficiaries in Shanghai?
§ Captain KINGI have been asked to reply. The cost of the Shanghai Defence Force will be dealt with in connection with the Supplementary Estimate which will be presented shortly.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWill the hon. and gallant Gentleman answer the second part of the question—whether there is any prospect of a contribution towards this expense coming from the beneficiaries?
§ Captain KINGI am not in a position to make any statement.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODAm I to understand that we are to get no assistance from the people we are protecting?
§ Captain KINGThe right hon. Gentle man is certainly not to understand anything from what I have just said, except that I am not in a position to make a statement.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWhy cannot the hon. and gallant Gentleman answer when a question is put on the Paper?