§ 61 and 62. Mr. COCKSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, (1) whether his attention has been called to the note of the Chinese Government to the League of Nations, stating that on 16th December last General Honjo, Japanese Commander-in-Chief in Manchuria, published a proclamation to the effect that the Manchurian provinces of 14Iukden and Kirin were henceforth independent and were breaking of all relations with the Chinese Government: and whether any representations have been made on the subject to the Japanese Government;
(2) whether he can give any information regarding the Japanese proposal to form, during the Japanese military occupation of Manchuria, a new independent state of Manchuria and Mongolia?
§ Mr. EDENI have no information beyond the Chinese note mentioned by the hon. Member, which I have seen, to confirm the idea that there is a Japanese proposal to form an independent State in Manchuria and Mongolia. The Chinese note itself referred to a statement, not to a proclamation. His Majesty's Government have made no representations on the subject to the Japanese Government.
§ 63. Mr. COCKSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the policy of His Majesty's Government still remains as stated by the Secretary of State on 13th and 30th July, 1928, when he said that His Majesty's Government regarded Manchuria as being a part of China, and as set forth in Article I of the Nine-Power Treaty of 1922 by which 480 Great Britain, in common with the other signatories, engaged to respect the sovereignty, the independence and the territorial and administrative integrity of China?
§ Mr. COCKSIn view of that answer, would it not be desirable to call the attention of the Japanese Government to the matter referred to in the other questions, namely, the statement as to the creation of a separate State in Manchuria?
§ Mr. EDENThe Japanese Government have given very definite assurances both to His Majesty's Government and to the League, that they intend to maintain their responsibilities under the Nine-Power Treaty and also to maintain the open door in Manchuria.