Lord ERSKINE(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give the House any further information as to the attack on foreigners at Nanking?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI wish to supplement my statement of the other day by facts derived in part directly from British sources, and in part from information supplied to His Majesty's Minister at Peking by the American and Japanese-representatives.
The looting was carried out by soldiers in uniform belonging to formations under the command of General Cheng Chien. This fact is sworn to by His Majesty's Consul-General, the United States Consul and numerous responsible British and American residents. The looters were in small parties controlled by the blowing of whistles, and they were called off by bugle shortly after the firing from the meu-of-war began. The British Consulate-General was surrounded before being entered and sentries wore posted. About 30 soldiers spent the previous night in the vice-consular house, which was unoccupied at the time, and raised the revolutionary flag on the entry of the looters. Foreign women, including Mrs. Giles, the wife of His Majesty's Consul-General, were thoroughly searched and rudely stripped of valuables. Many had their clothes torn off them and two American women were saved from attempted violation. These facts can be established by sworn depositions.
I learn further that foreigners were not molested by the Northern troops nor the local inhabitants; and that the latter were friendly throughout and assisted foreigners to escape. The looting and destruction were worse than at first realised and the attack on foreigners was carefully organised. The British Consulate-General was a special objective. The consular party have lost everything and were robbed of valuables at the point of the gun, the houses were burnt after 1228 being looted, and the furniture used for firewood. Mr. Huber, the harbour master, was killed.
The following is the treatment suffered by the Americans in Nanking: About noon, after the murder of an American missionary and the attempted murder of many others by Nationalist soldiers, the Chinese police warned the American Consul that his party would be destroyed unless he could escape. Accordingly, his party of one officer, eleven sailors, nine civilians and two children escaped under constant fire across country to Socony House on the Standard Oil Company's hill above the city walls, where many Americans and British already were. Although repeatedly robbed and threatened by Nationalist soldiers, he, the Vice-Consul and the Standard Oil Company's manager, managed to keep them out of the house for two hours, but finally they broke in and, seeing the number of people within the house, retired and commenced firing on them in ever increasing numbers. The United States and British vessels then dropped shells immediately around the house and the party escaped over the wall.
The Nationalist soldiers deliberately fired at the United States Consul, knowing him to be such, and with intention to kill. When this happened he had just given them his card and asked to see their officer. The United States Consulate was deliberately looted, and although this was known by the Nationalist officers, no effective steps were taken to afford protection up to the time of the firing from the vessels in the river for the rescue of the party in the Standard Oil Company's house. Murder, robbery and other outrages were committed upon American and other foreigners in all parts of the city from 8 a.m. with no attempt at official restraint until after the naval barrage at 4.30 p.m. The American Consul tried all day, through the police officials and other channels, to see some responsible officer but no one would see him. From statements made to him and many other Americans by soldiers, and from the fact that the soldiers proceeded in bands whose movements were under direction, and were promptly assembled by bugle calls upon the commencement of the naval barrage, he was convinced that the 1229 outrages were planned and could not possibly have been the result of the accidental getting out of hand of a few troops.
As regards the Japanese, the following is the position: On the morning of 24th March about 150 soldiers belonging to the Nationalist second and sixth armies occupied the Japanese Consulate for four and a half hours. They were dressed in uniform and military caps and armed with rifles, and they started looting at once. One party attacked the offices and the residences of the staff. The other attacked the residence of the Consul who was ill in bed, and fired shots at him, at members of his staff, at a naval officer and marines and at Japanese civilians who were at the Consulate, and threatened them with bayonets. Two Japanese received bayonet wounds. The troops also molested the women. They were followed by a mob who took away everything belonging to members of the Consulate and to the civilians. A Japanese school, hotel and two private hospitals were completely looted and turned into military headquarters. The soldiers at length threatened to set fre to the Consulate. At this point the chief of the political bureau of the sixth division of the Second Nationalist Army intervened. He was followed by the commander of the sixth division, and guards were posted for the protection of the Consulate. Next afternoon the Consular party made their way to the Japanese destroyers in the river.
I have here also a sworn statement by Mrs. Giles, the wife of His Majesty's Consul-General, and by Mr. Brown, a British citizen.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman what is the next step he proposes to take in this matter? Is he making representations, has a Note been sent, or what is being done? [Interruption.] What good have your troops done?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINThe steps which it may be proper for His Majesty's Government and the other Governments whose citizens have thus been treated and whose flags have thus been outraged to take are under consideration.