§ 1. Colonel HOWARD-BURYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government have considered the appointment of a Consul 1266 at Urumchi, in view of the fact that this is the capital of Chinese Turkestan and that there is already a Russian Consul-General there and a large staff?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Arthur Henderson)No such appointment is proposed at the moment.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is an important place, the capital of a very large province, and that, while we have no representative there, Russia has?
§ Mr. HENDERSONYes, I am aware of that fact. When the matter was considered in 1925, no action was taken.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYBut have not conditions changed very much since that date?
§ Captain CROOKSHANKAre we also to understand that His Majesty's Government are not represented in Central Nottingham?
§ 2. Colonel HOWARD-BURYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information with regard to attempts to overturn the existing Government of Chinese Turkestan during the past two years; and what is the present position?
§ Mr. HENDERSONGovernor Yang, who had held office since the Chinese Revolution of 1911, was assassinated in July, 1928. I have no information as to any attempts to overthrow his successor. The Government of Chinese Turkestan recognises the suzerainty of the National Government of China.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYWill not the right hon. Gentleman take some steps to obtain accurate information of what is going on in that Province?
§ Mr. HENDERSONI do not know what the hon. and gallant Member means by "accurate information." We are in touch with our representative.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIs it our business to inquire into every little part of the world except our own country? What have we got to do with Turkestan?