§ 11. Sir KINGSLEY WOODasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state the present position in Peking; whether he has now received any account of the sack by Red troops of 1750 Yuanchow-Ki, in the course of which two British missionaries were carried off; and what is the present position there?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Arthur Henderson)On the 3rd instant a former Counsellor of the Chinese Foreign Office called on His Majesty's Minister and stated that he had been appointed by General Yen Hsi-shan to be the head of the Foreign Affairs Bureau of the Commander-in-Chief and had been instructed to communicate to Sir Miles Lampson a telegram received from General Yen. The telegram stated that General Yen had assumed office as the Commander-in-Chief of the National forces, and announced a punitive campaign the object of which was to promote the peaceful unification of the country. He declared that foreign life and property would be protected in all territory occupied by his troops, and requested that foreigners would refrain from lending moral or material support to his opponents. As regards the situation at Yuanchow, I have received no further information beyond that given to the right hon. Gentleman in reply to his question on Wednesday last.
§ Mr. DAYCan my right hon. Friend say whether the statement is correct that two missionaries were captured by Red troops?
§ Mr. HENDERSONNo. I have had no information to that effect.
§ Mr. COCKSIs it not clear that these so-called Red troops are really members of the Chinese United Empire party?
§ Mr. CHARLES WILLIAMSWill the British Government continue to be neutral in these quasi-military operations in China?
§ Sir K. WOODDoes the right hon. Gentleman think there is any matter for amusement that two British missionaries have been dealt with as described?