§ 73. Captain GARRO-JONESasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make any statement regarding the military situation in the neighbourhood of Shanghai?
The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Locker-Lampson)I understand the Prime Minister is going to make a statement on this subject which covers the hon. Member's question, and perhaps he will wait for it.
§ Captain GARRO-JONESOn a point of Order. There have been frequent occasions recently on which hon. Members have put down questions which have been ignored on the pretext that later, by pre-arrangement, other questions will be put. I desire to submit that hon. Members in their representative capacity here have the same rights and there ought to be some protection for them to put their questions.
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONPerhaps I ought to explain that this statement is rather a long one, and it covers, among other things, the whole of the hon. and gallant Gentleman's question.
§ Captain GARRO-JONESWhat I desire to ask you, Sir, is whether there is any protection you can give us from this growing practice of ignoring a question put by a private Member in order that it might be replied to by pre-arrangement with a Member of the Front Bench?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI think it is a very old custom of the House that a question of unusual magnitude should be taken at the end of questions in reply to a question put by the Leader of the Opposition.
§ Mr. RAMSAY MacDONALD(by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister whether he has any statement to make in regard to the situation in Shanghai?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAt 6 p.m. last night there were reported to be 23,000 Nationalist troops in the area immediately south of the French Settlement, but the number is probably exaggerated. Their advance had been facilitated by the fact that the Northern Commander, General Pi Shu-chen, made terms with the Nationalists and was appointed commander of the 41st Army.
A general strike for three days has been declared in celebration of the Nationalist victory. It is stated that this strike is not anti-foreign; it includes public utility workers.
212 Chinese police stations outside the Settlements have been taken over and their arms seized by agitators, who are creating disorder in the Settlement borders. Yesterday afternoon a party of Punjabis proceeding in motor lorries to their posts was attacked by gunmen; one sepoy was killed and one seriously injured, but the assailants escaped. The particular district involved has now been occupied by Japanese marines.
A state of emergency has been declared by the municipal council, and the naval and military fences allotted for internal security purposes have taken up their stations; the situation is well in hand.
At the request of the municipal council armed guards of the national forces concerned are being provided for foreign properties on municipal roads beyond the cordon. There are three such Japanese posts in this district and six British. The Royal Marines have landed at Pootung, the riverside area opposite Shanghai, to protect British lives and property there.
The Northern forces are reported to be evacuating Soochow; and it is stated that Chang Tsung-chang is preparing to defend Nanking strongly.
§ Mr. MacDONALDCan the right hon. Gentleman say if the place where the Punjabis were attacked was inside the concession or outside the concession?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI believe that it was inside the cordon but outside the international settlement.
Sir CLEMENT KFNLOCH-COOKECan the Prime Minister give the House any information in regard to the 17 casualties which occurred to British people?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, Sir.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKECan the Prime Minister give us any information as to firing by a British cruiser?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, Sir. We have no confirmation of that at all.
§ Captain GARRO-JONESIs there any form of diplomatic contact with the Cantonese forces, and, if not, will the right hon. Gentleman make an attempt to establish that contact?
§ The PRIME MINISTEROur Consul-General at Shanghai is in constant touch.
Lieut.-Colonel JOHN WARDHas our representative, who is likely to get into touch with either of the sides to the dispute in China, plenty of funds at his disposal? That is the best way of settling any difficulty there.
§ Mr. RILEYCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether any casualties have occurred to British inside the international settlement?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, Sir. We have no information on that point yet.
§ Major CRAWFURDCan the Prime Minister tell us whether there has been any threats to the civil population arising out of the situation in Shanghai?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt entirely depends upon what the hon. Member means by a threat. He must remember that the settlement is seething with mobs which may get out of hand at any time.
Mr. BECKETTHas the Prime Minister seen the statement which appeared in the "Morning Post" that the Cantonese forces were the only forces that could not be bought in China?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am afraid that I have seen no statement in the Press this morning.
§ Captain GARRO-JONESWhen the Prime Minister says that our Consul-General is in constant touch with the Cantonese, will he say with whom our Consul-General is in touch?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe hon. and gallant Member must realise that in such a kaleidoscopic situation you have to get into touch with whomsoever you can.
§ Captain GARRO-JONESWhen the right hon. Gentleman says that our Consul-General is in constant touch, I want to know with which particular leader or person he is in contact. If the right hon. Gentleman cannot say with whom we are in touch, what foundation has he for his statement that we are in diplomatic touch with the forces?