§ 3. Captain PETER MACDONALDasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British Government 136 has yet received any communication from the new Government of Manchuria; whether it intends to recognise this Government; and when the League of Nation's Commission of Inquiry will leave Shanghai for Manchuria?
§ Mr. EDENMy right hon. Friend has received a communication purporting to be from the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the new Government in Manchuria, requesting the opening of formal diplomatic relations. No answer has been returned to this communication. I am not, therefore, in a position to add anything to the reply given to my hon. and gallant Friend on the 14th March last. The League Commission of inquiry informed the Secretary-General of the League on the 26th March that they proposed to leave Shanghai that day for Nanking, where they would stay for four days, and that they would reach Peking at the end of this week. They expect to arrive in Manchuria at the beginning of the third week in April.
§ Captain MACDONALDCan my hon. Friend say why there is this delay in replying to this request?