§ 13. Mr. A. Hendersonasked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government are still prepared to co-operate with the United States Government in a reaffirmation of the principles of the Nine-Power Treaty; and whether His Majesty's Government will co-operate with the United States Government on the basis that the Sino-Japanese dispute is a matter of continuing concern to them as signatories of the said Treaty?
§ Mr. ButlerAs regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to my speech in the Debate on 9th November. His Majesty's Government are prepared at all times to maintain close touch with the United States Government in matters of common concern to both countries.
§ Mr. HendersonMay I ask the Minister, in view of the fact that the Japanese Government, are acting in flagrant contravention of the provisions of this Treaty, whether, after 18 months, it is not about time that something was done to bring it home to the Japanese Government that the British Government still intend to retain their preferences under this Treaty?
§ Mr. ButlerI think I made the position clear in the speech in the Debate on 9th November, if the hon. Gentleman will do me the honour to study it?
§ Mr. HendersonIs it not the fact that the speech was dealing with the question of the open-door, and that at any rate the Nine-Power Treaty dealt not only with the open-door, but with the independence and territorial integrity of China?
§ Mr. ButlerI think that if the hon. Gentleman will refer to my speech he will find that it dealt with a much wider subject than that.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerWill the hon. Gentleman tell us whether His Majesty's Government stand by all the principles of the Nine-Power Treaty?
§ Mr. ButlerYes, Sir.
§ 3 Mr. Bennasked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Government has had any communication with the Government of the United States of America on the subject of the re-assembly of the Brussels Conference on the Nine-Power Treaty?
§ Mr. ButlerNo, Sir.