HC Deb 18 May 1927 vol 206 cc1162-3
9. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which Governments in China are in official relations with His Majesty's Government or His Majesty's representatives?

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

Official relations are maintained by His Majesty's Legation with the Chinese authorities at Peking, and by His Majesty's Consular officers with the authorities at Hankow, Nanking and any other centre where a local Government effectually establishes itself.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Is it a fact, as reported in the papers to-day, that our representative has been withdrawn from Hankow and official relations broken off?

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

Yes. Mr. Newton has been withdrawn, from Hankow and a Note giving that information has been addressed to Mr. Chen and is being published almost immediately.

Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHY

Will the hon. Gentleman give the reasons for the withdrawal of our representative?

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

I think we must wait until the Note appears.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that a statement appears in the Press and that he has had notice of this subject? A statement appears in the Press that we have withdrawn our representative because the Hankow Government is not a civilised Government. I want to ask whether we are not picking out the Hankow Government for separate treatment?

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

Various reasons have been given. One of them is that the Hankow Government have done absolutely nothing in reply to our demands in regard to the Nanking outrages.

Mr. W. THORNE

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether any news has been sent to the Foreign Office about Mr. Chen being dismissed as Foreign Secretary?

Mr. SPEAKER

That question does not arise.

Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

The hon. Gentleman has just said that our representative has been withdrawn from Hankow because no reply has been received to our demands. Is he aware that the Foreign Secretary said that our policy was continuing as before, and is not this a change of policy altogether?

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

I think the hon. and gallant Gentleman had much better wait until the Note is published.