§ 93. Mr. N. MACLEANasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs 1983 whether the Government has considered the contents of the note of Secretary of State Stimson, United States of America, to Japan, dated 7th January, 1932; whether they have agreed to co-operate with the United States of America in the intimation contained in this note of their intention not to recognise any situation, treaty, or agreement entered upon by the Governments of Japan and China which is in violation of the covenants and treaties already existing between the signatories to the covenants and obligations of the Pact of Paris; and, if not, what action is proposed?
§ Mr. EDENI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme on the 2nd of March. Since then the hon. Member will no doubt have seen the Press reports of the speech made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary at Geneva on the 7th of March, suggesting a declaration by the League of Nations in the sense quoted in the question.
§ Mr. MANDERCan the hon. Gentleman say whether an agreement has now been reached on that Resolution in the Assembly?
§ Mr. LANSBURY(by Private Notice) asked the Lord President of the Council whether his attention has been called to a statement made at the Assembly of the League of Nations by the Chinese Delegation on the 8th March, in which it is alleged that the Japanese Government contemplate despatching troops to the Tientsin area; whether he has information on the subject; and whether, if he is satisfied that these allegations are well founded, he will make representations to the Japanese Government, in view of the situation in Shanghai and in China generally, as to the danger of moving troops to Tientsin?
§ Mr. EDENI have been asked to reply to a question, but I have had no notice of this one. I have had notice, however, of another question with reference to Shanghai.
§ Mr. LANSBURYI am sorry if there has been a mishap in sending the question. The next question that I was going to put—
§ Mr. BALDWINI have not seen this question; it has not come to me at all. The question which I think the right hon. Gentleman is now going to ask, about Shanghai, we did get last night. I asked the Foreign Office to attend to it, and they have the answer to it.
§ Mr. LANSBURYI am sorry; I thought that both questions were sent in at one time.
§ Mr. BALDWINOnly one reached me.
§ Mr. LANSBURY(by Private Notice) asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make a statement with regard to the negotiations between the Governments of China and Japan on the one hand, and the Powers which have special interests in the Shanghai settlements on the other, for the conclusion of arrangements which shall render definite the cessation of hostilities in the Shanghai area and regulate the withdrawal of the Japanese forces; whether these negotiations have broken down, and, if so, the causes of the failure; and whether be will give an assurance that His Majesty's Government are doing everything possible to bring about an armistice in the Shanghai area, untrammelled by political conditions relating to the settlement or any outstanding questions between His Majesty's Government and the Chinese Government.
§ Mr. EDENThe situation is, I think, not quite such as the right hon. Gentleman seems to assume. The Council of the League of Nations were informed by my right hon. Friend, the Foreign Secretary, on the 29th February, of the conversations on board His Majesty's Ship "Kent" for the purpose of arranging a cessation of hostilities. On the same day the Council made a proposal for a conference to take place for the definite reestablishment of peace in the Shanghai area, subject to local arrangements being made for a cessation of hostilities. The conference was to include representatives of other Powers specially interested in the Shanghai Settlements as well as Japan and China. Further, this conference was to be undertaken on the basis, first, that Japan had no political, territorial or other exclusive designs in that area, and, second, that the safety and integrity of the International and French 1985 Settlements must be preserved under arrangements which would secure the Settlements and their inhabitants from danger. The proposal was accepted by the Chinese Government on the condition of a cessation of hostilities on the basis of the terms drawn up in His Majesty's Ship "Kent." It was also accepted by the Japanese Government. The terms drawn up in His Majesty's Ship "Kent" were referred to the Chinese and Japanese Governments for confirmation, but have new been superseded, so far as the Japanese Government are concerned, by others which I hope to be able to give to the House very shortly. These latter terms have not, so far, been accepted by the Chinese. Both Governments, however, in addition to having accepted the Council's proposal, are parties, through their representatives in Geneva, to the Assembly resolution of the 4th March. This resolution calls upon them to ensure that the cessation of hostilities already announced shall be made effective, and recommends negotiations, with the assistance of the other interested Powers, to render the cessation of hostilities definite, and to regulate the withdrawal of the Japanese troops. These negotiations cannot be said to have broken down, for, in the absence as yet of a local agreement between the Chinese and Japanese, on the terms for an effective cessation of hostilities, they have not been actually entered upon. It is not clear at present how this unfortunate hitch can best be overcome, but the right hon. Gentleman can rest assured that His Majesty's Government are not only contributing their utmost to assist, but also have no desire or intention to complicate the position by introducing matters extraneous to the issue immediately involved.