§ 7. Mr. LOOKERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the President of the Provisional Court of Shanghai has been dismissed; that a new President, 23 years of age and with no legal experience, has been appointed in his place; that such appointment is a violation of the agreement under which the Mixed Court was returned to the Chinese; and can he state what action he proposes to take?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINOn the 15th of June the Commissioner for Foreign Affairs at Shanghai notified the senior Consul that the Kiangsu Provincial Government had instructed the President of the Provisional Court to hand over the duties of his office to a new appointee who is a graduate of the Universities of Soochow and Michigan. The dismissal of the President is being opposed by the 506 Consular Body as being a violation of the assurance, annexed to the Rendition Agreement, that the Judges will enjoy the immunities and securities of tenure provided for by Chinese law. The matter is now under discussion between the Commissioner for Foreign Affairs and the Consuls-General for the United States, Japan, the Netherlands and Great Britain.
§ Mr. LOOKERWill the right hon. Gentleman represent to the Chinese authorities that an appointment of this nature would destroy all public confidence in the good faith of the Chinese administration?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI think the representations that are necessary have already been made by His Majesty's Minister, or are in course of being made by the Consuls-General of the Powers.
§ Mr. HASLAMHas the change actually taken place, or is it only contemplated?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI cannot say whether the duties have actually been handed over or not, but orders were issued to the President of the Court to hand over to a new appointee, who is named.