§ 17. Mr. LUNNasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the authorities of Manchukuo have ordered a British subject, Mr. E. 747 Lenox Simpson, editor of the Harbin "Herald," to leave Manchuria; whether the extra-territorial privileges of Great Britain in China require the approval of the British Consul-General for such an order; and whether, as this country is pledged by the Assembly report of 24th February not to recognise Manchukuo de jure or de facto, he will issue instructions to the Consul-General in Harbin to oppose the proposed action of the Manchukuo authorities and to protect the rights of British subjects in Manchuria?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. His Majesty's Consul-General at Harbin has already protested against the threat to deport Mr. Simpson without due legal process in the British Courts under which alone a British subject can lawfully be deported from Chinese territory, and has been instructed to continue to protest strongly, if necessary, against the breach of treaty rights involved. His Majesty's Charged Affaires in Tokio has also been instructed to ask the Japanese Government to use their influence to prevent this threatened violation of treaty rights, and the matter is being inquired into by them.