HC Deb 13 December 1937 vol 330 cc783-7
2. Lieut.-Commander Fletcher

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what conversations have taken place with the Netherlands Government concerning defence co-operation in the Far East?

The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Eden)

I have no statement to make on this subject.

Lieut.-Commander Fletcher

Have any proposals for such conversations been made?

Mr. Eden

As I have said, I have no statement to make.

6. Mr. Arthur Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government propose to take any action in respect of the bombing of British ships at Wuhu by Japanese aircraft?

9. Mr. Moreing

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any statement to make with regard to the bombing of British ships by Japanese aeroplanes at Wuhu on 5th December?

Mr. Eden

There is nothing which I can at present add to the information with regard to this matter in the answer given by my Noble Friend on 9th December to the hon. and gallant Member for Nuneaton (Lieut. - Commander Fletcher).

Mr. Henderson

In view of the fact that a state of belligerency has not been recognised in this China situation, will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind the desirability of asking for compensation in respect of this damage?

Mr. Eden

Yes, Sir.

Lieut.-Commander Fletcher

Is it the case that the Japanese authorities have forbidden all movements of shipping on the Yangtse?

Mr. Eden

Perhaps the hon. and gallant Member will await the statement which I am to make later.

7. Lieut.-Commander Fletcher

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the German Ambassador in China offering his services as a peace mediator between the Chinese and Japanese Governments?

Mr. Eden

No, Sir. I understand from the German and Japanese Governments that the German Ambassador at Nanking has not been charged with the mission of making any such offer on their behalf.

10. Major-General Sir Alfred Knox

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any British military attaché is actually present with the Japanese forces in the field in China?

Mr. Eden

No, Sir.

Sir A. Knox

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think it advisable that we should have a military attaché present at these operations?

11. Mr. A. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government intend to propose that a meeting of the Far-Eastern Advisory Committee should be held, in view of the failure of the Brussels Conference to recommend any action in defence of China?

Mr. Eden

No, Sir. His Majesty's Government do not at present intend to take the initiative in making such a proposal, more especially since they have received no indication that any Government desires such an initiative to be taken by His Majesty's Government.

Mr. Henderson

In view of the fact tha His Majesty's Government do not intend to take the initiative, are we to understand that they prefer to wait until some other country does so?

Mr. Eden

If the hon Gentleman reads my answer, he will see the whole of our reasons for not taking it.

12. Mr. Thorne

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Nine-Power Conference at Brussels discussed the financial conditions of Japan?

Mr. Eden

No, Sir.

13. Mr. Creech Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations were made to His Majesty's Ambassador in Tokyo in connection with the proposed visit of Japanese propagandists to this country; was permission sought; and, if so, what was the object of this mission?

Mr. Eden

Such individuals as have come to this country have, so far as I know, come in a private capacity. There was, therefore, no question of any representations to His Majesty's Ambassador at Tokyo nor of any permission being sought or given.

Mr. Attlee

(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any statement to make with respect to the action of Japanese forces in firing upon British warships yesterday?

Mr. Eden

Yes, Sir. I regret to say that several attacks were made yesterday by Japanese forces on foreign shipping including His Majesty's ships on the Yangtze River. A concentration of British merchant shipping with His Majesty's Ships "Cricket" and "Scarab" in company at a spot between Nanking and Wuhu were attacked with bombs three times, but fortunately without a hit being registered. His Majesty's ships opened fire in return with no reported result.

At Wuhu further incidents took place. His Majesty's Ship "Ladybird," which proceeding to join a British tug which had been attacked by machine-gun fire, was fired on by a field-gun battery. Four direct hits were sustained by His Majesty's Ship "Ladybird," and I deeply regret to have to report that one naval rating was killed. There were in addition several casualties, including the Flag Captain. The same battery had been firing at merchant ships, and at least one British merchant ship was hit. His Majesty's Ship "Bee," which arrived shortly after, was also fired upon but was not hit. The Senior Naval Officer landed and made a strong protest to the senior Japanese military officer, who stated that the firing on the warships was a mistake but that he had orders to fire at every ship on the river.

The Japanese civil, military and naval authorities in Shanghai were immediately informed, and have undertaken to warn the Japanese forces in the field. Meanwhile His Majesty's Ambassador in Tokyo has made the strongest protest to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, who has promised to make an immediate inquiry.

The seriousness of these incidents needs no emphasis, but, in view of the grave issues involved, I hope that the House will not ask me for any fuller statement to-day.

Mr. Attlee

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has any information that similar attacks have been made on ships of the United States; and, if so, whether he has been in consultation at all with the United States Government on the subject of these repeated attacks?

Mr. Eden

In answer to the first part of the right hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, I regret to say that a United States gunboat, which was also attacked, has actually been sunk, with, it would appear, loss of life. The answer to the second part is that we are in communication with the United States Government.

Mr. T. Williams

May we ask the right hon. Gentleman how the Japanese explanation can be reconciled, when they say that it was an accident and, secondly, that the instructions were to fire on every ship in the river?

Mr. Eden

That is just one of the questions that I would rather not answer.

Mr. Gallacher

rose—

Mr. Speaker

The Foreign Secretary said that he could answer no further questions.

Mr. Gallacher

I do not want to ask for further information. I want to ask the Foreign Secretary, on this question, whether it is not desirable that the Government should get into touch with the nations that are still at the League of Nations?