§ 4. Captain PETER MACDONALDasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the present position in regard to the various negotiations with the Government of China, particularly in connection with extra-territoriality?
§ 8 Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether the negotiations now being carried on by Sir Miles Lampson include any question of the future of Shanghai, or whether this matter is excluded from the discussions;
(2) whether the negotiations now being conducted by Sir Miles Lampson and the Chinese Government provide safeguards in the interests of British subjects in the event of an agreement being reached between the parties which would modify the existing system in regard to extraterritoriality;
(3) whether the negotiations now proceeding on the subject of extra-territoriality in China are intended to result in a treaty which will be subject to ratification by Parliament?
Mr. A. HENDERSONThe only negotiations now proceeding with the Chinese Government are concerned with extraterritoriality, but, as I informed the hon. Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Wardlaw-Milne) on Monday last, I am not at present in a position to make any further statement. If, as I hope, the negotiations are successful, they will result in a Treaty, and there will, in accordance with the usual practice, be an opportunity for debate in this House before ratification.
§ Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEWill the right hon. Gentleman reply to my question whether Shanghai is or is not excluded from these negetiations?
Mr. HENDERSONI have that point in mind, but I am not in a position at the moment to make a statement.
§ Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that this House is entitled to some information before any negotiations are conducted with a Government which is quite unable to look after its own nationals, far less to look after British nationals?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTEIs not this a case of secret diplomacy again?
§ Mr. GODFREY LOCKER-LAMPSONCan the right hon. Gentleman inform the House whether these negotiations are carried on on the basis of the report issued a few years ago by the extra-Territoriality Committee?
§ Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEArising out of the previous answer—