§ 34. Sir CHARLES CAYZERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can now make any statement as to the result of the inquiries which have been made into the recent disappearance of Mr. John Thorburn at Soochow?
Mr. A. HENDERSONIt is thought that Mr. Thorburn was arrested at Shanghai by the Chinese military police as the result of a shooting incident which occurred on 1st June. There is reason to suppose that he remained in custody until 10th June. Since then nothing further has been heard of him. His Majesty's Minister is strongly pressing the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs to appoint a commission of inquiry to ascertain all the details regarding Mr. Thorburn's disappearance. I am now awaiting a report on the result of his representations.
§ Sir C. CAYZERIn view of the fact that Mr. Thorburn was last seen in the custody of the military police at Soochow, will not the right hon. Gentleman insist that a British representative shall take part in all further inquiries into this case with full powers to examine the colonel of the military police?