HC Deb 04 July 1938 vol 338 cc11-5
6. Mr. Day

asked the Prime Minister what reply has been made by the Japanese authorities in Tokyo to the representations made to them relative to the difficulties experienced by British ships which are unable to obtain wharfage in the commercial harbour at Tsingtao; and will he give particulars of the local settlement that has been arrived at between the British naval and consular authorities with their Japanese colleagues on this question?

Mr. Butler

The representations made to the Japanese authorities in Tokyo were informal, and did not specifically call for any reply. As regards the second part of the question, the Japanese Consul-General at Tsingtao has informed His Majesty's Consul-General that the Imperial Japanese Navy are prepared to accord facilities to British vessels on compliance with instructions given by the Japanese Naval Harbour Administration. There are, however, consequential difficulties involved by such compliance on the part of British shipping, as I have already stated in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for West Lewisham (Sir P. Dawson) on 27th June.

Mr. Day

Are shipowners still compelled to use sampans and junks for the transport of merchandise and passengers to this port?

Mr. Butler

Yes, Sir.

16. Sir John Wardlaw-Milne

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the strong opposition on the part of the European community to the proposal that there should be any evacuation of any part of the foreign areas in Hankow; and whether every effort will be made to retain His Majesty's vessels at Kiukiang to support and protect those who are there endeavouring to protect and maintain British interests?

20. Mr. Chorlton

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give an undertaking that the British business communities at Hankow and Kiukiang will not be evacuated except at their own request, and that His Majesty's gunboats will remain at these ports for the due protection of British interests and property?

Mr. Butler

I am aware that there is a division of opinion amongst the British residents at Hankow regarding measures to be taken in the event of a Japenese occupation. Both at that city and at Kiukiang, the ultimate responsibility for making the best arrangements for the protection of British lives and property must rest with the authorities on the spot, in whose judgment my Noble Friend has every confidence. As regards the movements of His Majesty's ships, I would refer to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury (Mr. Chorlton) on 29th June last, to which I have nothing to add.

Sir J. Wardlaw-Milne

Is my hon. Friend aware of the immense importance of British interests in this part of China, and of the necessity of doing everything possible to maintain those interests, especially seeing that if the evacuation of British residents took place it would probably have a very serious effect on our trade interests in the future—interests which, I may say, are probably much greater than those which exist in Spain?

Mr. Butler

Yes, Sir, I am fully aware of the importance of those interests, and that is why the Government pay particular attention to this aspect of the question.

Mr. Gallacher

Are not these interests there for the purpose of making profits.— [Interruption.]

Sir J. Wardlaw-Milne

Is the Minister not aware that British interests in China represent a vast amount of employment?

Mr. Gallacher

On a point of Order. I was only half through with my question. Am I not permitted to finish it? I think it is a very good question.

Mr. Speaker

If it had been a little shorter it would have been better.

Mr. Gallacher

As the question of profit arises in both cases, cannot the hon. Gentleman give the same protection to British interests in Spain as he is prepared to give to British interests in China?

17. Mr. David Adams

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the reply by the Japanese delegate at the committee on traffic in opium in its meetings at Geneva during the present month to the effect that 1,500 chests of Iranian opium, transported by a Japanese ship from the Persian Gulf to China, were imported by the Manchukuo Government for the purpose of consumption by the registered addicts of that country; and whether he will endeavour to ascertain whether the numbers of such registered addicts are increasing under Japanese guidance?

Mr. Butler

As regards the first part of the question, this information was communicated to His Majesty's Ambassador at Tokyo by the Japanese Government, to whom an inquiry had been addressed as to the destination of the ship when it left Bushire. As regards the second part of the question, I am not in a position to make any statement, nor is it likely to be possible to obtain the information desired.

18. Mr. Adams

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to statements by the Japanese delegate at the committee on traffic in opium that of 2,900 chests ordered by Japanese interests in the first three months of 1938, 300 chests were imported by a Japanese firm through Shanghai, these 300 chests being permitted by the North China provisional government in conformity with existing opium conventions; and whether, in view of the fact that existing conventions appear to allow an increasing import of dangerous drugs into parts of China under Japanese control, the British Government will press for the most rigid interpretation of these conventions, with a view to preventing a systematic demoralisation of a very large number of people?

Mr. Butler

Yes, Sir; my attention was drawn to the statement made by the Japanese delegate at Geneva. As, however, he declared that the Japanese firm acted solely as shipping agents, no technical breach of the 1925 Convention has been committed by the Japanese Government. As also, the Convention of 1931, which limits the amount of manufactured drugs which may be imported by each country during the year, does not apply to raw opium, the tightening up of existing regulations would not achieve the object which the hon. Member has in mind.

Mr. Adams

Does the Under-Secretary not agree that these Conventions appear to allow increasing imports of these dangerous drugs into China, and cannot His Majesty's Government take action in the matter?

Mr. Butler

I fully realise the position, and I regret that the Conventions do not cover the sort of incident which the hon. Member brought to our notice.

Lieut.-Commander Fletcher

Will the report of the proceedings at the League on this subject be considered, and is there any doubt that the Japanese Government are encouraging the drug traffic in China with a view to demoralising the Chinese?

Mr. Butler

The whole matter is under close consideration.

Mr. A. Henderson

Will His Majesty's Government work in close co-operation with the United States Government to try to check this horrible traffic?

Mr. Butler

Any steps we can take to check this traffic in co-operation with any Government will be necessary and important.

Mr. Thorne

Is it not true that while we are considering these questions the Japanese are making the Chinese all drunk?

21. Mr. Chorlton

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that, since the Japanese military authorities took over the telegraph service in North China, British merchants' business cables in Tientsin are subject to serious delay in delivery and are often mutilated in respect of essential details, such as quantities and figures; and whether, failing satisfaction from the Japanese, he will endeavour to arrange for the transmission of these messages by wireless to and from Hong Kong?

Mr. Butler

I have seen no recent official information on this subject, but my Noble Friend is now calling for a report from His Majesty's Consul-General at Tientsin.