§ 37. Mr. TREVELYANasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a request has now been received from the Foreign Minister of the Nanking Government that British military aircraft shall henceforth not fly over Chinese territory without authorisation; whether he has information to the effect that Chinese soldiers have been instructed to fire on any aeroplanes flying over strategic points; and whether instructions will 1480 forthwith be issued to the British naval, military, and air authorities in China to observe on all occasions the provisions of international aerial conventions, to which Great Britain is a party, in so far as Chinese territory is concerned?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI have seen reports in the Press that the member of the Nanking Administration who is in charge of foreign affairs has made a protest of this nature and that Chinese troops have been instructed to fire on British aircraft, but I have no official information on the subject. It is not proposed to modify the instructions that have been given to the Naval Commander-in-Chief, regarding which I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's reply of the 1st June.