HC Deb 30 March 1938 vol 333 cc1969-70
1. Mr. Mander

asked the Prime Minister whether he can now make any further statement as to the position of the International Settlement in Shanghai?

The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Butler)

The position has not altered since my reply to a question on the same subject put by the hon. Member for Kingswinford (Mr. A. Henderson) on 23rd March.

4. Mr. Gordon Macdonald

asked the Prime Minister the number of claims for compensation made by His Majesty's Government against Japan during the present war; the total amount involved; and what compensation has been received up to date?

Mr. Butler

Claims have been presented to the Japanese Government for injury or loss of life to members of the British Forces in China, and the total sum claimed, namely £2,420, has already been paid by the Japanese Government. Instructions have also been sent to His Majesty's Ambassador in Japan for the presentation of claims for damage to merchant shipping suffered during the incidents on the Yangtse on 5th, 11th and 12th December of last year. The precise amount involved in this second category is not yet known, but it is in the region of £250,000. According to my latest information, other claims to the number of 34 and amounting to £7,190 5s. 6d. have been the subject of preliminary local notification to the Japanese authorities in China.

16. Commander Marsden

asked the Prime Minister what has been the result of the representations made to the Japanese Government in February and renewed during the present month on the necessity for maintaining the integrity of the Chinese Customs and preventing the continuance of the irregular situation which now obtains in Shanghai to the prejudice of non-Japanese trade?

Mr. Butler

I have at present nothing to add to the answers which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bilston (Mr. Hannah) on 24th March.

Commander Marsden

Will my hon. Friend press the Japanese Government for an early reply? Is he aware that there is a general feeling that the Japanese Government are holding up these assurances while their goods go into Shanghai duty free, to the detriment of our trade?

Mr. Butler

The Japanese Government have promised early consideration of the representations which we have made to them.

27. Mr. Arthur Henderson

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the announcement by the Japanese Government that they will no longer recognise the Chinese Government at Hankow; whether this will affect His Majesty's Government's recognition of the Chinese Government; and whether he will give an assurance that His Majesty's diplomatic representative in China will only maintain diplomatic relations with the Hankow Government?

Mr. Butler

I am aware that the Japanese Government declared on 17th January that they would cease thenceforward to deal with the Chinese National Government. This will not affect the attitude of His Majesty's Goverenment which remains as stated in the reply given to the hon. Member for Clayton (Mr. Jagger) on 8th February.

Mr. Henderson

Will the Under-Secretary please answer the last part of my question?

Mr. Butler

I think that is answered by the reference to the previous answer, which gave an assurance to that effect.