§ 7. Mr. NUNNasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in order to avoid being forced into a last-minute agreement such as was made in 1930, he will consult with the other treaty Powers with a view to informing the Chinese Government, at the earliest possible moment, that the administration of the district court at Shanghai needs reform and indicating the lines on which, in their opinion, such reform should be achieved?
§ Mr. EDENAs my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, the present agreement has over three months to run, and all appropriate steps will naturally be taken to put matters on the best possible basis before it expires. Such steps necessarily include consultation with the other signatories of the agreement. In regard to the defects in the working of the court, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. Friend the junior Member for the English Universities (Sir R. Craddock) on the 12th December.