§ 1. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what. Chinese territory outside the international settlement at Shanghai is now occupied by MS Majesty's forces, and the reason for such occupation; and whether any Chinese territory outside concession areas is occupied by His Majesty's forces in other parts of China?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Godfrey Locker-Lampson)The Shanghai Defence Force occupy certain posts in the residential district to the west of the international settlement for the purpose of defending the settlement and protecting British lives and property in that district. The only other places where His Majesty's forces are stationed outside a concession area are Nanking, where one company has been posted on the premises of the International Export Company for protective purposes, and Peking, where the Legation Guard is stationed under the terms of the Protocol of 1901.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs there any immediate prospect of these troops being withdrawn from foreign territory?
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONDirectly there ceases to be any risk of danger, of course they will be.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs there any threat to Shanghai at the present time?
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONIf there were not the risk, the troops would not be there.
Lieut.-Commander KENWO RTHYIs the hon. Gentleman aware that very often there is a lagging policy and that the troops remain when they are no longer required?