§ Mr. LANSBURY by Private Noticeasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give the House any information as to the result of the discussions at Geneva about the Sino-Japanese negotiations at Shanghai?
§ Sir JOHN SIMONThe Special Assembly of the League of Nations, to which the Sino-Japanese dispute has been referred, held a public sitting on 30th April which I attended as the representative of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. A resolution on the subject of the negotiations at Shanghai was adopted. This resolution referred to the articles of a draft agreement which had been accepted by the two parties and had been negotiated on the spot with the help of representatives of the four Powers having special interests in the Shanghai settlements. Under this draft agreement the Japanese 1112 Government undertakes to carry out the withdrawal of its forces into the International Settlement and the roads outside the Settlement in the Hongkew district as before the incident of 28th January last.
The resolution declares that the previous resolution of the Assembly of 4th March will only have been fully complied with when the Japanese forces have been entirely so withdrawn. The draft agreement provides for the establishment of a joint commission, including neutral members, to watch the carrying out of the agreement, to certify the mutual withdrawal and to collaborate in arranging for the transfer from the evacuating Japanese forces to the incoming Chinese police who will take over as soon as the Japanese forces withdraw. The powers of the joint commission include authority to call attention to any neglect in carrying out the provisions of the agreement and, as Monsieur Hyams, the President of the Special Assembly, pointed out,
the decision to be taken by this commission will, we hope, be a unanimous decision. It is provided, however, that the decision may be by a majority, the President having, if necessary, the casting vote.I am awaiting news from Shanghai as to the actual signing of this agreement and if, as is much to be hoped, this takes place very shortly, I will take the opportunity of informing the House.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODMay I put a question to the Foreign Secretary regarding China and Japan?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI have no notice of any question from the hon. Member.
§ Mr. KIRKWOOD; It is a special question arising out of the reply given by the Foreign Secretary. I beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether there is any truth in the statement that is being made throughout the world that he used his influence for the Japanese against the Chinese in those negotiations— [Interruption.] I would like a reply to that question.
§ Sir J. SIMONIf it is not irregular, I am very willing to reply to the hon. Member's question. There is no truth at all in any such statement.