§ 7. Mr. Dayasked the Prime Minister whether he will give particulars of any joint representations that have been made by the various Powers to the Japanese Government on the question of the Canton or other air raids in China?
§ Mr. ButlerNo joint representations have been made to the Japanese Government on the subject of air raids in China. Separate representations have, however, been made by the British and other representatives in Tokyo.
§ Mr. ButlerNot that I am aware of.
§ 9. Sir Patrick Hannonasked the Prime Minister whether he has yet received a reply from the Japanese Government to the representations of His Majesty's Government that the Japanese authorities should now permit the Shanghai Municipal Council to resume their normal control over the area of the International Settlement at Shanghai?
§ Mr. ButlerReplies have been received from time to time from the Japanese authorities at Shanghai deferring the return to normal conditions for one reason or another. His Majesty's Government have lost no opportunity of making clear both at Tokyo and at Shanghai the dissatisfaction with which they regard this state of affairs.
§ Sir P. HannonIs it not a fact that His Majesty's Government find it very difficult to get a definite reply from the Japanese Government?
§ Mr. ButlerOn this particular subject, yes, Sir, but not on all subjects.
§ 12. Mr. Moreingasked the Prime Minister whether he has any information of the announcement by the Japanese authorities in China that foreigners' extraterritorial rights in the Japanese-occupied portions of China are to be abolished; and whether he will give instructions to have the Japanese Government and their representatives in China informed without delay that any order to this effect will not be accepted by His Majesty's Government?
§ Mr. ButlerMy Noble Friend has seen in the Press the report of the remarks attributed to the Japanese official spokesman at Shanghai, and he has instructed His Majesty's Ambassador at Tokyo to take the matter up with the Japanese Government.
§ 13. Mr. Chorltonasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that under international law the Japanese have no right to interfere with neutral shipping on the Yangtze River, particularly having regard to the fact that they are not technically at war with China; and whether he is prepared to give an undertaking that no British man-of-war shall be removed from the Yangtze without replacement by an equivalent unit?
§ Mr. ButlerFor a statement of the treaty position I would refer to a reply which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Chertsey (Commander Marsden) on 24th March. As regards the second part of the question, the movements of British ships of war in the Far East lie within the discretion of the Commander-in-Chief, China Station, which my Noble Friend would not wish to limit.
§ Mr. ChorltonHas there been any further explanation with regard to trade?
§ Mr. ButlerI should require notice of that question.
23. Mr. David Adamsasked the Prime Minister whether he will give an assurance that as long as the legal Government of China is in existence His Majesty's Government will not recognise any Government of China set up by the Japanese Government?
§ Mr. ButlerYes, Sir.