§ 4. Sir A. KNOXasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the agreement recently concluded between Soviet Russia and Outer Mongolia providing for mutual assistance by all means in the matter of averting and preventing the menace of military attack, as also of rendering each other aid and assistance in case of attack by any third State; to what extent this agreement constitutes Outer Mongolia an independent State; and whether Outer Mongolia is no longer a part of the Chinese dominions?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs regards the first part of the question, I would draw my hon. and gallant Friend's attention to the statement on the subject which my noble Friend made on 21st April in reply to a question put by the hon. Member for Gower (Mr. Grenfell). As regards the second and third parts of the question, His Majesty's Government continue to regard Outer Mongolia as under Chinese suzerainty; and since the conclusion of the Protocol of 12th March the Soviet Government have declared that, in their view the Sino-Soviet Treaty of May, 1924, in which Outer Mongolia was recognised as an integral part of the Chinese Republic, is not infringed by the Protocol and retains its force.
§ Sir A. KNOXSurely it is rather extraordinary that Soviet Russia should make a defensive treaty with some part of the Chinese Republic? Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that this should be the subject of sanctions against Soviet Russia to prevent this act of aggression?