HC Deb 27 June 1932 vol 267 cc1456-7
15. Sir ARTHUR MICHAEL SAMUEL

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received, since 19th June, an assurance from the Japanese Government that the integrity of the Maritime Customs shall be maintained in Manchuria and that the Japanese Government will not be party to any interference with the funds required for the Chinese Government Debt service?

Sir J. SIMON

The Japanese Government have given no such assurance. They have, however, explained that they are anxious that the integrity of the Chinese Maritime Customs should be maintained and that they hope that this might be achieved by an agreement between the Manchurian and Chinese authorities under which the former should retain the surplus revenues after providing for administrative expenses and a quota for the foreign obligations secured upon the Chinese Customs revenues.

Sir A. M. SAMUEL

Has my right hon. Friend pointed out to the Japanese Government, who are usually very scrupulous in carrying out their Treaty obligations, that they are breaking the spirit of the Treaty of 1907 governing the Maritime Customs arrangements?

Sir J. SIMON

The matter is very actively in consideration, and in fact I have been in communication with Tokio.

16. Sir A. M. SAMUEL

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give the names of the Customs stations in Manchuria from which revenue has been remitted to Shanghai; and will he inquire of the Japanese Government the reason why the revenues at Harbin, Newchwang and Antung have not been remitted from Dairen to Shanghai since 7th June 1

Sir J. SIMON

The stations in question were Dairen, Algun and Lung-chingtsun. As regards the second part of the question, the revenues at the three stations there named, so far as I am aware, are normally remitted direct and not through Dairen. My information is that remittance of the revenues at those places has been suspended by order of the Manchukuo authorities. As regards the position at Dairen, my hon. Friend will have seen the report in the "Times" of the 25th June. His Majesty's Ambassador in Tokio is being instructed to make inquiries of the Japanese Government in the matter.

Sir A. M. SAMUEL

I am very much obliged to my right hon. Friend, but will he point out to the Japanese Government that the information that we have received from the papers gives us really an idea that we are being confronted with polite insincerities? Will he therefore impress upon the Japanese Government that we must get down to a definite and precise statement about this matter?

Sir J. SIMON

As I have stated already, His Majesty's Ambassador in Tokio is being instructed to make inquiries, and naturally those inquiries are to ascertain the facts and to express our concern.