§ 4. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the intentions of the Japanese Government with regard to recognising the new Manchurian Government; and whether he intends to ask the Japanese Government if, in view of their declaration as to the open door in Manchuria, they will consult His Majesty's Government and the other Powers concerned before proceeding any further with the matter?
§ Mr. EDENMy right hon. Friend has tad no indication of any intention on the part of the Japanese Government to recognise the new Manchurian administration in the immediate future, and, so far as he is aware, the policy of the Japanese Government remains as stated in the reply which he gave to the hon. Member for Broxtowe (Mr. Cocks) on the 800 22nd of February last. There is no such connection between recognition and the policy of the "open door" as would make the step suggested by the hon. Member a useful one.
§ 5. Mr. HAMILTON KERRasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the announcement made by the Government of the new independent state of Manchuria that there may be some change in the policy of the open door, he proposes to re-affirm the attitude of the British Government in favour of entire freedom of trade in that country?
§ Mr. EDENI have seen an announcement to this effect, but, in view of the fact that the attitude of His Majesty's Government towards the question of the "open door" has already been clearly stated, my right hon. Friend does not consider that any advantage would be obtained by a further pronouncement unless and until there is direct evidence that British interests in Manchuria are being adversely affected.
§ 6. Major-General Sir ALFRED KNOXasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the strength of the Japanese forces in occupation of Chinese territory in the neighbourhood of Shanghai; and what units, if any, have been recalled to Japan?
§ Mr. EDENThe 24th Mixed Brigade and the 11th Division were recalled to Japan in the latter part of March. According to a report dated 21st March to the Secretary-General of the League from the representatives at Shanghai of friendly Powers, there would remain at Shanghai after this withdrawal approximately 37,000 Japanese troops. So far as I am aware, this is the present figure.
§ Sir A. KNOXIs it not evident that it is impossible for the Japanese to withdraw their forces from Shanghai until they have some guarantee regarding the safety of life and property of their nationals, and is not alarm increased by the attitude of His Majesty's late Government in offering to surrender all British rights at Shanghai last year—an offer that might be repeated?
§ Mr. EDENI do not think it would help for me to enter into the merits of the dispute at present under negotiation.
§ 7. Sir A. KNOXasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has been made in the Sino-Japanese negotiations at Shanghai; and whether these negotiations have reached the point of discussing a permanent settlement or merely the terms of a truce as a preliminary to peace negotiations?
§ 8. Mr. COCKSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information regarding the progress of the peace negotiations at Shanghai?
§ Mr. EDENAs regards the progress of the negotiations, I cannot at present add anything to the reply given to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Morgan Jones) on Monday last. These negotiations were undertaken in pursuance of the resolution of the League Assembly of the 4th of March to render definite a cessation of hostilities and to regulate the withdrawal of the Japanese forces, but it is not possible, pending their conclusion, to say how much ground these negotiations will cover and to what extent further negotiations will be necessary.
§ Sir A. KNOXHave not the Chinese definitely stated that they will not negotiate on the subject of the boycott or anti-foreign demonstrations or the safety of Shanghai, and would not the position of the two partners in these negotiations be definitely helped towards peace if the Government stated that in future they intend to open negotiations regarding the future of Shanghai on the basis of Mr. Justice Feetham's report?
§ 9. Mr. COCKSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action His Majesty's Government proposes to take in view of the obstacles offered by the administration recently set up in Manchuria and its Japanese advisers to the entry into Manchuria of the League commission of inquiry and its assessors?
§ Mr. EDENI am not aware that there are any obstacles as suggested in the question except, according to Press reports, some abjection on the part of the Manchurian authorities to Dr. Wellington Koo visiting Manchuria with the commission. According to these reports, however, the chairman of the commission, 802 Lord Lytton, has already publicly announced his attitude in this matter, namely, that the commission will go to Manchuria with Dr. Koo, or not at all. If the difficulty is not disposed of locally, it would be for the Council of the League and not for His Majesty's Government individually to take any appropriate action.
§ 10. Mr. COCKSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the nature of the communication received from the Japanese Government in relation to the application of the Covenant of the League of Nations to the Manchurian dispute; and what action is His Majesty's Government taking with regard to it?
§ Mr. EDENMy right hon. Friend regrets that he is unable to state the nature of the communication referred to, which was made confidentially, or to make any statement in reply to the last part of the question.