§ 1. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give particulars of the communication sent by the Chinese delegation to the League of Nations to the Manchukuo Committee of the League with reference to its non-recognition of Manchukuo and the new Manchurian Empire?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir John Simon)The hon. Member presumably refers to the communication made on the 19th March to the Secretary-General of the League of Nations from the Permanent Office of the Chinese delegate accredited to the League. This communication contained the text of a statement made by Mr. Wang Ching-Wei, Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the occasion of the enthronement of Mr. Pu Yi in Manchuria. As the statement is somewhat long, I propose to have it printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. MANDERWould it be true to say that it amounts to complete repudiation on behalf of China of all Japanese action in Manchuria?
§ Sir J. SIMONI never believe in giving by word of mouth the contents of a document which will shortly be available.
§ Following is the statement:
§ The assumption of imperial title by Pu Yi, another act of high treason against 942 the Chinese Republic, has long been heralded and is arousing nation-wide indignation in this country.
§ However, as we look at the situation, the status of the Three Eastern Provinces and Jehol is no other than that of illegal military occupation, while Pu Yi and other members of his theatrical troupe are mere puppets controlled by their masters and have no independent personality. Whether Pu Yi's name be "chief executive" or "emperor" or whether his illegal regime be "the republican" or "monarchial" does not affect in the least the inherent nature of the puppet, the changes being mere shifts in the role the puppet plays. Looking from this angle one need not be greatly surprised at all the farcical comedy that is being enacted in Changchun.
§ China's attitude towards the puppet's regime has always been the same and shall remain so, notwithstanding any change in the appearance of the puppet. The same may be said of European and American Powers with whom the principle of non-recognition of "Manchukuo" has become an ironclad law of international morality, and deviation from, or violation of, which will surely reflect on the international personality of the State concerned.
§ By this latest act in Changchun the gravity of the Far Eastern problem will undoubtedly be further heightened, while international rivalries and complications in the Far East will be further increased, all pointing to one condition, namely increasing insecurity in world peace. This is most deplorable, but the world will know where the responsibility lies.