HC Deb 04 March 1935 vol 298 cc1550-1
8. Major-General Sir ALFRED KNOX

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the activities of Russian Communists in Sinkiang?

Sir J. SIMON

I have no information as to any Communist movement in Sinkiang, if that is what my hon. and gallant Friend has in mind. If he is referring to the general situation and the relations between Sinkiang and the Soviet Union I will see whether there is any information which I could communicate to him.

Sir A. KNOX

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Press in China states that the Governor of Sinkiang has at least five Russian advisers, and that he has recently been entertaining Yartzev, the commander-in-chief of the Russian forces in Russian Turkistan?

9. Sir A. KNOX

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the activities of Chinese Communists in the province of Shensi; what is the position of the missionaries in that province; and whether there is a danger of a new communist state establishing itself in North-West China?

Sir J. SIMON

At the beginning of February, communists who appear to have come from North-East Szechuan, entered South-West Shensi capturing Ningkiang on the 6th February and threatening Hanchung. Communists are also reported to be in the neighbourhood of Fenghsiang. The areas concerned contain some twenty British missionaries who have made arrangements to leave if necessary. Five missionaries and two children are reported to have safely reached Fenghsiang. Two Australian missionaries, Mr. and Mrs. Frencham, were residing at Hingkiang at the time that it fell into communist hands, and Mr. Frencham is known to have been captured but no definite news has yet been received as to the fate of Mrs. Frencham. His Majesty's Consul- General, Hankow, has telegraphed to the Shensi Provincial Governor requesting that immediate steps be taken to effect the release of Mr. Frencham and to trace the whereabouts of his wife. The Governor has replied that measures are being taken for the rescue of Mr. Frencham and the protection of other missionaries. His Majesty's Vice-Consul, also, has flown to Hsianfu to interview the provincial Chairman who has been instructed by the Central Government to afford him every protection. I am unable to speculate as to the chances of any such development as the last part of my hon. Friend's question suggests