§ 8. Mr. DONNERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now in a position to state the extent of the losses in life and property suffered by British subjects in the recent fighting in Shanghai; and whether any steps have been, or will be, taken to secure from the combatants adequate compensation?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Eden)The full extent of the losses suffered by British subjects is not yet known. In addition to the action mentioned in the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for the City of Chester (Sir O. Cayzer) on 11th April, His Majesty's Consul-General at Shanghai has been authorised to send to the Chinese and Japanese authorities a list of such claims as have already been received, and to reserve the right of His Majesty's Government to claim compensation.
§ Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEIs it not the case that the Municipal Council of Shanghai has a very comprehensive list of those claims?
§ 16. Mr. NEIL MACLEANasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs 789 whether he has accepted, on behalf of the British Government, the right of the Mixed Commission at Shanghai to decide by a majority vote when the Japanese troops are to leave Chinese territory?
§ Mr. EDENAs I understand the position, the Commission will not have this power. The question of His Majesty's Government accepting it does not there fore arise.
§ Mr. MACLEANIs it not the case that this Commission was to have power to submit certain matters to their respective Governments according to the vote of the Commission?
§ Mr. EDENNo, Sir. The proposal that the hon. Member appears to have in mind does not form part of the resolution which has been approved by the Assembly.
§ Mr. MACLEANHas not that statement been made to the Foreign Secretary at Geneva; that both Governments would accept a majority vote of the Mixed Commission?
§ Mr. MACLEANAre we to take it that these matters are to be kept secret, that this House is not to know to what it is being committed?
§ 17. Mr. N. MACLEANasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that Japan's delegate at the Assembly of the League of Nations has informed the president and the secretary of the Assembly that the Japanese Government would accept the right of the Mixed Commission at Shanghai to decide by a majority when the Japanese troops should leave Chinese territory; and whether that acceptance of the principle of neutral judgment has been conveyed to the members of the Mixed Commission?
§ Mr. EDENThe attitude of the Japanese Government is not as represented in the first part of the question, and the second part of the question does not, therefore, arise.
§ Mr. MACLEANHas it not occurred to the hon. Gentleman that the Japanese representatives did agree and did inform the President and M. Huysmans that this was the decision 790 taken by the Japanese? Was that particular statement of the Japanese envoy conveyed to the Foreign Secretary?
§ Mr. EDENIf the hon. Member will read my answer he will see that the Japanese Government did not give any such reply. I do not think we can discuss here what may have been said by one or other representatives.
§ Mr. MACLEANAre we to under stand from the hon. Gentleman that the representatives of the Japanese Government say things at the League of Nations that are not confirmed or endorsed by his Government?