HC Deb 17 June 1931 vol 253 cc1717-9
3. Colonel GRETTON

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if His Majesty's Government intend to defer entering into a definite agreement with China in regard to extra-territorial rights until they have been able to examine the final report to the Shanghai Municipal Council on this subject by Judge Feetham, which is expected to be issued within the next few weeks?

Mr. A. HENDERSON

As I informed the House on the 8th June, the negotiations between Sir Miles Lampson and Dr. Wang have reached a stage which enables them to be reported to then-respective Governments, but it is likely that some time will elapse before the proposed treaty can be signed. In the meantime, Mr. Justice Feetham s report will be carefully examined.

Sir AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN

Will the right hon. Gentleman make Mr. Justice Feetham's report available to Members of this House—I do not ask for a general circulation, but by placing copies or one copy in the Library—and can the right hon. Gentleman say when he proposes to make his statement to this House in regard to the policy in China of His Majesty's Government?

Mr. HENDERSON

In regard to the first part of the supplementary question, I have already informed the House that two copies of the first volume of the report are laid in the Library. The second volume is not available, but I will follow the same course in regard to it. With regard to making a statement, I made an answer, I think on Monday, that the conditions in China at the moment might cause some time to elapse before a final settlement had been reached, and under such conditions as obtain to-day I think it would be against the public interest for me to make any statement.

Sir A. CHAMBERLAIN

I do not want to press the right hon. Gentleman on the exact condition of the negotiations. What I ask is for a statement of the policy which His Majesty's Government are pursuing, in general terms.

Mr. HENDERSON

Yes, but I regret that I could not make a statement of the policy which we are pursuing in general terms without showing exactly what was going on, and I have to keep in mind the repercussions of any public statement on the conditions which obtain just at this moment in China.

6. Mr. GODFREY LOCKER-LAMP-SON

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether an agreement has been reached by Sir Miles Lampson and the Nanking Government as a result of the recent negotiations on extraterritoriality?

Mr. A. HENDERSON

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer given on Monday last to the hon. Member for Kidderminister (Mr. Wardlaw-Milne).

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

Was this agreement reached before the right hon. Gentleman had had an opportunity of studying the Feetham report?

Mr. HENDERSON

I cannot see the connection between the agreement to which I referred on Monday and the Feetham report.

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

Is the question of Shanghai included in the agreement which has been made?

Mr. HENDERSON

The information will be given on the whole subject, as I have already stated in reply to the right hon. Gentleman opposite.

Sir A. CHAMBERLAIN

But the right hon. Gentleman declined to give me any information. When will the information be given?

Mr. HENDERSON

I would remind the right hon. Gentleman that I said that I would make a statement, but that the conditions existing at present did not make any statement advisable at this moment.

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