§ 56. Mr. LOOKERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that a large section of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway is immobilised owing to the action of the Japanese authorities in holding up large quantities of engines and rolling stock and in refusing to allow repairs to be carried out to the Yellow River bridge; that through traffic is consequently impossible; that the railway loans are in default and 1402 must remain so until through traffic is resumed; that the Japanese authorities refuse to take the steps necessary to enable full running to be resumed until they have composed their differences with the Chinese over the Japanese boycott and other matters quite unconnected with the railway; and will he, on behalf of the British interests concerned approach the Japanese Government with a view to getting through communication restored.
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply returned to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Maidstone (Commander Bellairs) on 17th December last. I regret that the position is still unsatisfactory, and I am inquiring whether the Japanese Government can take steps to effect an improvement.