§ 85. Sir C. CAYZERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make any further statement as to the situation in Southern China, especially in view of the large British commercial and national interests affected?
86. Mr. CREECH JONESasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any statement to make concerning the relations of the Nanking Government and the South-west Political Council of Kwantung, Kwangsi, Kweichow, and Yunnan; and what arrangements have been made for the protection of British interests?
§ Viscount CRANBORNEThere has been a certain movement northward of troops under the authority of the Southwest Political Council, but the reasons for this are not clear, a variety of conflicting motives having been ascribed to it. A denial of any intention to provoke 400 civil war has been issued at Canton. Routine measures for the protection both by land and sea in a possible emergency of the centres of British interest in the area involved have, however, been taken.