§ 10. Mr. D. GRENFELLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the situation in the Far East and, in particular, upon the developments in Manchuria and China?
§ Sir J. SIMONIn China the principal recent event has been the successful conclusion of the action taken by the National Government—the National Government of China—against the insurrectionary regime set up in the province of Fukien. I should like to take this opportunity of expressing appreciation of the friendly way in which the Chinese Government received the representations by His Majesty's Representatives in China regarding the protection of British lives and property during the operations. In December last the neutral zone between the Chinese and Japanese forces in the north was violated by certain irregular rebel Chinese troops. Apart from this and one or two other incidents involving action either by Japanese or Chinese troops, there has been no disturbance of the position. In Manchuria the chief event has been an announcement that the "Chief Executive," Mr. Pu-Yi, will ascend the throne 8 and inaugurate a monarchical regime on the 1st March next. The discussions between representatives of the Soviet Union and the Manchurian authorities concerning the Chinese Eastern Railway do not appear to have been resumed as yet.