§ 18. Mr. NUNNasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information to the effect that Soviet Russia has taken control of the customs on the China-Mongolian border; if so, by what treaty Soviet Russia claims this right; and whether the former valuable trade between Tientsin and North-West China has been diminished in consequence?
§ Sir J. SIMONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The remainder of the question, therefore, does not arise.
§ Mr. NUNNIs it not a fact that the Russian people have been virtually controlling Mongolia for something like five or six years and are now building railways there and training troops, and that the area is actually known as the Soviet Socialist Republic of Mongolia?
§ Sir J. SIMONThe hon. Member's question refers to taking control of the customs. My answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and therefore the answer to the supplementary question cannot arise.