70. Sir F. HALLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will arrange for the circulation, as a White 1661 Paper, of the original despatches containing the Japanese and Chinese versions of recent occurrences at Tsinanfu?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONMy right hon. Friend, the Foreign Secretary, in his statement on the 14th of May, gave a summary of the telegraphic report of the Japanese version, and both the Chinese and Japanese versions have received full publicity in the Press. It would be contrary to usual practice to lay as a White Paper documents of this character.
Sir F. HALLSurely this is a matter of the utmost importance, in view of the terrible atrocities of which we have heard, and cannot the hon. Gentleman, in the circumstances, make an alteration from the general course of events, and issue a White Paper, so that we may know exactly what has transpired?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONI do not know whether the hon. and gallant Gentleman noticed it, but a full Japanese version was given in this House, and printed in the papers next day; and a full version of the Chinese case, as sent to the Secretary-General of the League of Nations, was also published in the Press on May 12th. Therefore, the public have had the whole of the ease before them.
Sir F. HALLMay we assume that the notices that we have seen in the Press, as regards the Chinese version and the Japanese version, are substantially correct?
§ Mr. STEPHENWill the hon. Gentleman arrange that the full Chinese version is published in reply to the hon. and gallant Gentleman?
§ Mr. STEPHENI mean in the OFFICIAL REPORT to-morrow.