§ 76. Mr. NEIL MACLEANasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs 996 whether, in view of the statement made in the twelfth report of the Shanghai Consular Committee that on 21st March there still were, approximately, 37,000 Japanese troops in the Shanghai area, he can state if there has yet been any diminution in their number and what is the usual number of Japanese troops in this area?
§ Mr. EDENIn reply to the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply returned yesterday to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Wycombe (Sir A. Knox). As regards the second part, I understand that prior to the recent incidents there was a Japanese naval landing party of about 650 men stationed in Shanghai.
§ Mr. MACLEANWill the hon. Gentleman answer the last part of my question as to the diminution in the number of Japanese troops?
§ Mr. EDENIf the hon. Member will refer to my answer yesterday, he will see that, as far as we know, the number is still approximately 37,009.
§ Mr. MACLEANIs any action being taken by our representative in Shanghai, or the Committee of Inquiry, to have the number reduced?
§ Mr. EDENThe question of the Japanese troops at Shanghai is one of the questions which is now before the conference in which our representative has taken so active and untiring a part.