HC Deb 13 June 1939 vol 348 cc1109-11
Mr. Noel-Baker (by Private Notice)

asked the Prime Minister whether he can make a statement concerning the situation in Tientsin?

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

On 9thApril Dr. S. G. Cheng, manager of the Federal Reserve Bank and newly appointed Superintendent of Customs, was assassinated in the British Concession. This was the first case of violence which had occurred in the Concession since the outbreak of hostilities. The assassin, a Chinese, escaped. The municipal authorities invited Japanese co-operation and carried out a number of raids in the Concession, as a result of which several arrests were made. The Japanese authorities alleged that four of these were members of a terrorist gang connected with the above murder and with the death of three Japanese soldiers. These men were handed over to them for questioning and made confessions implicating them selves, which, however, they later retracted when returned to the custody of the British municipal authorities.

A warning proclamation was issued on 7th June that any breach of neutrality in the future would be dealt with by either handing the culprit over to the de facto authorities for trial or by expulsion from the Concession. The four men in question, however, were arrested before the issue of that proclamation. In the absence of evidence connecting them with the crime other than their own confession, made while in the custody of the Japanese and, as they allege, under torture, His Majesty's Government have not felt justified in giving instructions for them to be handed over to the local district court. This attitude is in accordance with the practice followed for the past 22 months. His Majesty's Consul-General accordingly informed his Japanese colleague on 7th June that the four men would be held by him pending the production of further evidence, failing which they would be eventually expelled from the Concession; two other men found in possession of bombs would be handed over, and in future offenders would be dealt with as in the proclamation referred to above. The Japanese authorities have indicated that they consider this reply to be unsatisfactory, and certain measures have already been taken to effect the removal of Japanese business houses and of employès of the de facto Chinese authorities from the Concession, and to isolate it. The situation is serious, but negotiations are still proceeding and it is hoped that a settlement can be reached.

Mr. Noel-Baker

Would the Government explain to the Japanese that their present persistent action against the International Concession is one which must lead to the gravest results if it is continued?

Mr. Butler

I think the Japanese authorities are aware of the attitude of His Majesty's Government, as described in the answer I have just given.

Sir J. Wardlaw-Milne

Has it not been the custom in the past, and would it not be possible in future, to set up courts, and send these four men to one of the courts, within the British concession, and have them tried there, if necessary, with all the evidence?

Mr. Butler

There are particular circumstances in this case, and I can assure my hon. Friend that any possibility will be considered.

Mr. Bellenger

While the whole House will welcome a satisfactory settlement, will the right hon. Gentleman make plain that His Majesty's Government will not tolerate what the Japanese have stated they will do, namely, blockade the British Con cession at Tientsin?

Mr. Butler

I had better refer the hon. Member to the last sentence of my answer, which said: The situation is serious, but negotiations are still proceeding and it is hoped that a settlement can be reached.