§ 40. Mr. RENNIE SMITHasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if passports have been issued to any British citizens in this country who recently cabled their willingness to fight in the army of Chang Tso-Lin?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINAs the hon. Member was informed on 28th February last, my only information on this subject is derived from the Press, where the name of one individual was given. His passport was renewed last year, with an endorsement for the whole British Empire. It has now been marked "Not valid for China," and in view of the fact that the individual was about to proceed to Japan, His Majesty's Consular Officers in that country have been instructed to refuse him an endorsement for China. All applications for passports for China are carefully scrutinised, and inquiries are made in any cases of doubt, but none have been discovered which indicate that the applicant's object in proceeding to that country is to join any of the Chinese armies.