§ 19. Sir A. KNOXasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any report from His Majesty's Minister in China regarding the still unpaid claims of Mr. W. J. Black for damages incurred during the Nanking incident of 24th March, 1927. at which time Mr. Black was living at Puchen, opposite Nanking, in the employ of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway Company; and whether, as his claim was recognised by the Chinese Nationalist Government and assessed by the Sino-British Commission appointed for the purpose, and as other claims in connection with the Nanking incident have been paid, he will state why Mr. Black's claim is still unpaid?
§ Mr. EDENNo, Sir. The Pukow Puchen claims, including Mr. Black's claim, were excluded from consideration by the Sino-British Nanking Claims Joint Commission on the ground that Pukow and Puchen were not at the time of the Nanking incident within the administrative area of the Nanking municipality. The personal claims were, however, later assessed separately by certain members of the Commission. It has therefore been impossible to press these particular claims under the Nanking settlement. My hon. and gallant Friend may, however, rest assured that appropriate action will be taken to deal further with Mr. Black's and other Pukow Puchen claims as soon as a suitable opportunity offers itself.
§ Sir A. KNOXIs it not time that the National Government of China acknowledged the justice of this claim, and, as it is now six years since the man sold his property, is it not time that we pressed for payment?
§ Mr. EDENThey were excluded from the Nanking area. The hon. and gallant Member can be assured that we have not lost sight of the matter.