CHINA AND JAPAN. (Hansard, 6 December 1937)

10. Mr. Vyvyan Adams
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the ineffectiveness of the Brussels Conference and of the imminent danger to British possessions, any attempt will be made on the part of the States members of the League, in cooperation with the United States, to concert pressure against the aggressor in the Far East?

§ 20. Mr. Bellenger
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what further multilateral action is projected by the signatories of the Nine-Power pact in an effort to bring about a cessation of hostilities between Japan and China?

§ Mr. Eden
I cannot accept the suggestion that British possessions are in imminent danger. I cannot anticipate what may or may not result from any further international consideration of the situation in the Far East, but I can assure the House that His Majesty's Government continue to consult closely with the other Governments principally concerned on all aspects of the present situation. So far as cooperation with the United States Government is concerned, the policy of His Majesty's Government has frequently been made plain in this House, and constant contact is maintained with that Government.

Mr. Adams
Will Parliament be told, at the earliest possible opportunity, of any specific proposals made by our own Foreign Office?

§ Mr. Bellenger
Does the answer of the right hon. Gentleman indicate that he can hold out no hopes of multilateral action being taken to bring these hostilities to an end?

§ Mr. Eden
No, Sir. I would not like that to be thought. I have explained many times that our action must be dependent on that of other countries which have interests in the Far East.

§ Mr. A. Henderson
Was it not intended that, following the Brussels Conference, there should be a meeting of the Far Eastern Advisory Committee?

§ Mr. Eden
Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put that question down.

§ Mr. Thorne
Is it not a fact that, while the Government are fiddling about, Japan is making great inroads into China?

§ 11. Mr. A. Henderson
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make a statement as to the representations recently made by the Japanese Consul-General to the British authorities at Hong Kong in relation to the alleged anti-Japanese activities in that city?

§ 13. Lieut.-Commander Fletcher
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action has been taken in respect of the protest addressed by the Japanese Consul-General at Hong Kong to the Hong Kong Government concerning their action in regard to alleged Chinese activities at Hong Kong?

§ Mr. Eden
Political activities of Chinese leaders visiting Hong Kong have not been the subject of any discussions between the Government of Hong Kong and the Japanese Consul-General there. A case of threatening letters received by stevedores working Japanese ships is the only matter that the Consul-General has raised. There appears, therefore, to be no truth in the reports which have appeared in the Press to the effect that the Consul-General had stated that Hong Kong might be drawn into the conflict between Japan and China.

§ Mr. Henderson
What action has been taken in regard to the representations that were made?

§ Mr. Eden
They were a very minor matter. They were handed over to the police to deal with, for inquiry in the usual way.

§ 16. Commander Marsden
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the situation in Shanghai, he will take steps to reopen the former British post office there?

§ Mr. Eden
According to my reports there has been no interference with the work of the post office in Shanghai, and there would, therefore, appear no present reason to consider the suggestion of my hon. Friend.

§ 19. Commander Marsden
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will inquire if the Japanese military authorities in Shanghai have installed censors in the Chinese post office at Shanghai; whether the interests of the British commercial community are in any way prejudiced by the operation of such 9 censorship; and, if so, whether he will take steps to cause such disabilities to be removed?

§ Mr. Eden
According to my information, censors have not been installed in the post office. The second and third parts of the question, therefore, do not arise.

§ Commander Marsden
Has the right hon. Gentleman any information as to whether any Japanese officials at all have been put in the post office in excess of the normal number under normal conditions?

§ Mr. Eden
Perhaps my hon. and gallant Friend will put a question down about that, as I am afraid that I do not carry the information in my mind.

§ 21. Mr. Bellenger
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what bilateral treaties between Britain and China are in existence which are likely to be affected by the present Sino-Japanese conflict?

§ Mr. Eden
The validity of treaty provisions between the United Kingdom and China cannot be altered by the Sino-Japanese conflict, and any modifications must be the subject of negotiation between Great Britain and China.

§ Mr. Bellenger
While appreciating the force of that reply, can the right hon. Gentleman say what bilateral treaties are in existence between this country and China?

§ Mr. Eden
I am not clear, but I will inform the hon. Gentleman about that. I thought it better to deal, in my answer, with the question of principle.

§ 22. Mr. Kennedy
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the Shanghai Municipal Council sent a written protest to the Japanese authorities against the march of Japanese troops through the western defence sector of Shanghai International Settlement; and, in view of the declared policy of His Majesty's Government being non-intervention in the war between China and Japan, why men of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment and the Durham Light Infantry assisted the Japanese troops to enter and pass through the sector?

§ 23. Mr. A. Henderson
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether 10 he can make a statement as to the situation in Shanghai, following the recent march of Japanese troops through the Shanghai International Settlement?

§ 24. Mr. A. V. Alexander
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the position at Shanghai?

§ 25. Sir P. Harris
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether an official protest was made by British and representatives of other countries against the victory march by Japanese troops in Shanghai; whether the Japanese authorities were warned by these representatives that such a march might lead to unpleasant incidents; and what are the conditions prevailing in that city at the latest available date?

§ Mr. Eden
The Japanese Command were informed by the officers in command of British and United States troops in Shanghai that the proposed march was contrary to their wishes and that they could not accept responsibility for any incidents that might occur. The British troops did not, therefore, assist the march in any way, but were employed to maintain order during it. His Majesty's Ambassador in Tokyo, on hearing of the projected march, at once made representations to the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, pointing out that the march appeared to be both provocative and uncalled for, and that the Japanese military authorities must take full responsibility for any trouble. These representations were subsequently endorsed by His Majesty's Government. It is, of course, true that the Japanese Government have the right to maintain troops in the Settlement, but the route of the march lay outside the particular sector allotted to them by the defence scheme, the conditions in that part of the Settlement were not abnormal and the parade was, therefore, unnecessary. As the House is aware from Press reports, a bomb was thrown during the march. As a result three Japanese soldiers, one Japanese civilian, an Indian and a Chinese policeman and a British sub-inspector were wounded, but not, I am glad to say, seriously. The Chinese who threw the bomb was shot by a policeman.
The House would, I feel sure, wish me to take this opportunity to express appreciation of the work done by the 11 Municipal Police of Shanghai. The march imposed a very heavy burden on them in view of the serious risks which it obviously entailed, and their conduct was in all respects exemplary.

§ Mr. Henderson
Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any other representations are to be made to the Japanese Government in order to avoid a repetition of these incidents?

§ Mr. Eden
I have given the House a full account of a delicate situation, and I would like to leave it at that.