§ 35. Mr. HARRISasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that, by threats of violence, the staff of the "Central China Post" of Hankow, a newspaper British owned and edited, has been forced to cease publication; and what steps His Majesty's Government proposes to take in the matter?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI would ask the hon. Member to refer to the reply given on 23rd March to the hon. Member for South-East Essex.
§ 38. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware of the uneasiness prevailing among British nationals at Hankow owing to the failure of the Cantonese to maintain order in the concession; and can he say 858 what steps he proposes to take to secure protection for British life and property?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINYes, Sir. The position at Hankow has again been strained. Chinese troops have been stopping and threatening British residents and have tried to prevent access to and from ships and men-of-war. Representations have been made to Mr. Chen, who has expressed his regrets, and the soldiers have now been withdrawn from the concession. His Majesty's Con-sul-General and the naval authorities are taking such steps as are in their judgment necessary for the security of British subjects.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Hankow Agreement has no beneficial results whatever, but rather the contrary, and that the position of British nationals in Hankow has become intolerable?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI think my hon. Friend's judgment is premature. Personally, I would not at this stage pronounce judgment on the result of the Hankow Agreement. Obviously, that agreement, signed in good faith on our side and, as we believe, signed in good faith by Mr. Chen, must be judged by the results which it produces.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEHas the right hon. Gentleman any information as to whether the War Memorial at Hankow, which was destroyed by the Chinese forces, has been repaired, or any steps taken for its repair?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat must be another question.
§ Mr. HANBURYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in Shanghai the greatest concern is felt about the Agreement of Hankow, and that the whole community in Shanghai is awaiting some answer from the Government as to the whole future of the settlement in China?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI have a Private Notice question on that matter.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYArising out of the reply with regard to Hankow, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in Hankow we are pursuing a policy of negotiation and that in Shanghai 859 we are pursuing another policy and endangering our people in Hankow by our policy in Shanghai?
§ Mr. THURTLEHard lying about Nanking. [Interruption.]
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI rise to a point of order, Mr. Speaker. The hon. Member for Shoreditch (Mr. Thurtle) calls across the Floor of the House that I am lying about Nanking.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI heard the word "lying," and to whomsoever it was applied, it must be instantly withdrawn. I was not aware to what it referred.
§ Mr. THURTLEI was not paying the least attention to what the right hon. Gentleman was Baying. So my remark could not have been addressed to him. There was an interjection from the other side of the House, and I was referring to that. My remark referred to newspaper lying in regard to Nanking. [Interruption.]
§ Mr. SPEAKERIf the hon. Member was referring to any Member in the House, he must at once withdraw it.
§ Mr. THURTLEI was not alluding to anyone in the House. I was alluding to the newspapers. [Interruption.]
§ Commander OLIVER LOCKER-LAMPSONIs it not the fact, Mr. Speaker, that no newspaper was mentioned?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYLying reports.
§ Mr. THURTLEThe "Evening Standard' for one. [HON. MEMBERS: "The words you used were 'You were lying,'" and "No, no."]
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member has disclaimed that he was referring to any Member of the House. But for that, I should have taken immediate action.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEIs the hon. Member entitled to say that a newspaper is lying?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt becomes a matter of taste rather than of order.