§ 56. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any official information about the alleged murder of Mr. Slitcher, of the China Inland Mission, and his daughter, and the attack on the remainder of his family and on a Roman Catholic priest, on their way to Yunnan-Fu from Shih-Tsung, on 9th April last; if he has information showing by whom these Canadian subjects were murdered; and whether he is making a demand for satisfaction and reparation?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member 1767 for Central Southwark (Colonel Day) on 2nd May. Telegrams have since reached me reporting that Mrs. Slichter and the child have been released and that the party arrived safely at Yunnanfu on 30th April. Pending the receipt of a full report, and consideration of the matter by His Majesty's Government in Canada, I am unable to make any statement on the last part of the question.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYif it is right for us to demand satisfaction for outrages in Nanking, which is controlled by the Kuominatang, why do we not demand satisfaction in a barbarous case of this kind where Northern troops were concerned?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI have not said that we will not demand satisfaction. I have said we are waiting for a full report on the subject. We are also in communication with the Canadian Government.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWill the hon. Gentleman be kind enough to let me know when he has any further information?
§ Mr. LOOKERIs it a fact that the particular outrage referred to in this question was carried out by bandits?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs it not a fact that most of our friends in the North are ex-bandits?