§ Mr. HARCOURT JOHNSTONE (by Private Notice)asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make any statement on the verbal declaration made yesterday by the Japanese Foreign Office as to the relations of foreign countries with China?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Sir John Simon)All I can say at present is that the statement appears to have been made orally by a Press officer of the Japanese Foreign Office. There are somewhat discrepant versions of what was said, and I have nothing to show whether it was an authoritative declaration. I must await further 1125 information before I can say anything further on the subject.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONEHas the right hon. Gentleman had no telegrams from His Majesty's Ambassador at Tokio?
§ Sir J. SIMONThe statement, as the hon. Gentleman knows, appeared only yesterday, and I prefer not to say anything further until I have information upon which I can make a statement.