§ 50. Captain FANSHAWEasked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's 1267 Government propose to re-occupy the British concession at Hankow, in view of the failure of the Nationalist Government to implement the agreement with regard to that concession?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINHis Majesty's Government have been in communication with other interested Powers as a result of the Nanking outrages, but I cannot at present make any statement as to the course which His Majesty's Government or the other Governments will feel it right to take.
§ 54. Sir CLEMENT KINLOCH-COOKEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the position of the property of British nationals resident or formerly resident in Hankow?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINThere have been various instances in the early part of the year of interference by labour agitators with British industrial undertakings at Hankow, and Mr. Chen on 21st April issued a notice to all Consuls that the Southern Government could not guarantee the integrity of foreign premises vacated by their owners. Nevertheless, the property of British nationals there remains, as far as I know, intact up to the present.
§ Mr. LANSBURYHas the right hon. Gentleman received any recent report from the British Consul at Hankow as to the happenings to British nationals?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINYes, I receive almost daily communications.
§ Mr. LANSBURYCan the right hon. Gentleman publish the latest one mentioned in the "Times" a week ago, in which it was stated that no damage had been done to any British property?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI think my answer is quite sufficient, and it is inconvenient that I should be called upon to publish daily current communications from our representatives.
§ Mr. LANSBURYThe question I put was whether the right hon. Gentleman will publish, not a daily one but a particular one in which the Consul said British property and British nationals had not been interfered with.
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINThat is a question which, proceeding on the facts supplied to me by the hon. Member, I have answered.
§ Mr. LANSBURYYou did no such thing.