§ 36. Mr. TREVELYANasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any steps were taken by the British Government to secure a fair trial for the 14 Chinese youths who were arrested in the British Concession at Tientisin in November and handed over to the Chinese martial law authorities, in spite of their claim to be political refugees, and who have now been executed?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINPersonal representations were made by His Majesty's Consul-General in Tientsin, both to Marshal Chang and to the Commissioner of Police, urging that the persons should be dealt with by ordinary legal process and pointing out the bad impression which would be created on public opinion in England if they mere harshly dealt with by the military authorities without a proper civil trial.
As was stated in the reply returned to the right hon. Gentleman on 13th December, the men were not handed over to the military authorities by the British, but were given into the custody of the Chinese city police, by whom they are reported to have been handed over to the martial law Court on 19th April.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYMay I ask whether, as the right of sanctuary has been removed from our concession at Tientsin, no other political refugees are allowed in?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINThe hon. and gallant Member bases his question on a misapprehension. No such right of sanctuary as he implies in his question has ever been recognised by the British or other foreign Power holding a con 26 cession. The action taken in this case by the British police was as stated by the Under-Secretary on a day on which I was not able to be present—
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYI know the answer.
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINIf the hon. and gallant Member refers to that statement, he will see that the general practice was followed exactly in this case.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that, though there was no recognised right of sanctuary, the practice has grown up of what were known as "Outs" in Peking taking refuge in foreign concessions; and now that that has been stopped by handing over these students, may we be assured that the same rules will be applied impartially?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINThe hon. and gallant Gentleman does not quite correctly state the position. There has been a certain right of refuge, provided that, while enjoying that right, the people so enjoying it did not act or intrigue or in any way agitate against the existing authorities; but there has never been a right of sanctuary within the foreign concession for Chinese who were in active opposition or engaged in seditious movements against the local authorities.