§ 31. Mr. COCKSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information regarding the proclamation of an independent state of Manchuria under Japanese auspices; and whether seeing that the formation of such a state is an infringement of the Nine-Power Treaty and the Covenant of the League of Nations, he is taking any steps in the matter?
§ Sir J. SIMONThe latest information that I have received from His Majesty's Ambassador in Tokyo is that he has been officially informed that if, as is probably true, an independent State of Manchuria has been proclaimed by the Chinese in Mukden, the Japanese Government was no more likely to recognise it than any other Government. The second part of the question is based on an assumption which my information does not enable me to confirm.
§ Mr. COCKSSeeing that the Government were warned for months about this being likely to happen—the proposition as to an independent State—has the right hon. Gentleman taken no steps to protest against its happening?