HC Deb 16 April 1930 vol 237 cc2876-7
7. Sir KINGSLEY WOOD

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the present position of affairs in China; and whether any action has been taken in relation to the Customs revenue at Tientsin?

Mr. DALTON

I have little to add to the reply which was given on, Monday last to the hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Hurd). I have received no report of further developments in the north; in the south the Government forces claim successes in the north river districts of Kwangtung, while in the west it appears that rebel forces have recaptured Lungchow. I have not received official confirmation of the report which appeared in the Press on Monday last of the seizure of part of the Tientsin Customs revenue by the anti-Government coalition, to which, I presume, the right hon. Gentleman refers.

Sir K. WOOD

Has the hon. Gentleman had any intelligence as to the safety of the British missionaries?

Mr. DALTON

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will put down a further question on that point.

Sir K. WOOD

Is the Under-Secretary aware that I have already put down several questions on this matter and that the Secretary of State has already made inquiries. I want to know whether any further intelligence has been received as to the safety of these missionaries?

Mr. DALTON

On that particular point, I have not had any further report since my right hon. Friend answered the question.

Earl WINTERTON

As there is great anxiety in the minds of the relatives of these people who are prisoners in the hands of the Chinese, will the Under-Secretary consider this matter of some importance and ascertain whether they are safe—[Interruption]—and, if not, what steps can be taken to ensure their safety: or does he share the apparent derision of his supporters behind him?

Mr. DALTON

I shall not answer the irrelevant passage at the end of the Noble Lord's supplementary question. The answer to the first part is that, as my right hon. Friend has more than once stated, our representative in China is keeping in close touch with what is happening and has made urgent representations to the Chinese authorities on this and similar matters.

Mr. THURTLE

Is my hon. Friend aware that the derision manifested on these benches was directed against the hypocrisy of hon. Members opposite?