HC Deb 25 April 1932 vol 265 cc17-8
28. Sir A. KNOX

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the reasons for the deadlock in the Sino-Japanese negotiations at Shanghai?

Sir J. SIMON

The main difficulty arose over the question of a fixed time limit for the second stage of the withdrawal of the Japanese troops to the International Settlement and certain municipally controlled roads adjacent to it.

Sir A. KNOX

Is it not the case that there is no chance of the Japanese withdrawing until they have a definite guaran- tee of the safety of their nationals; and would it not help if His Majesty's Government were to negotiate on the lines of the Feetham Report, in order to bring about some stability at Shanghai?

Sir J. SIMON

The detailed situation at Shanghai is now under the consideration of a Committee at Geneva, and I could not, I think, usefully or, indeed, properly make a further statement until that body has adopted a resolution.