§ 15. Mr. A. Hendersonasked the Prime Minister whether he has any further statement to make on the present situation in the Far East?
§ 19. Sir John Wardlaw-Milneasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the effect upon British prestige of the indignities suffered by British subjects at Tientsin if prompt action is not taken, he will press for an immediate apology and satisfaction from the Japanese Government?
§ 21. Sir Walter Smilesasked the Prime Minister whether he has any statement to make as to our early withdrawal of Most-Favoured Nation commercial relations from Japan?
§ The Prime MinisterThe general situation at Tientsin is unchanged. Arrivals of perishable foodstuffs continue to be spasmodic and are only between 10 per cent. and 20 per cent. of the normal. Tugs and lighters on the river are being subjected to search with consequent delays. The local municipal and military authorities have the question of food supplies under constant review and have authority to take such measures as appear appropriate. Very few British subjects are now using the barriers, but I regret to say that a number of further indignities have been inflicted on them. My Noble Friend has spoken in the strongest terms on the subject to the Japanese Ambassador and His Majesty's Ambassador at Tokyo has made similar representations to the Minister for Foreign 11 Affairs, with whom he is discussing the present situation in all its aspects. I have some reason to hope that this discussion may lead to a settlement of the Tientsin affair, and, therefore, while insisting that the treatment of British nationals by local Japanese soldiers to which I have referred must cease, I do not want to say anything to-day which would prejudice the prospects of a satisfactory issue to the conversations with the Japanese Government.
§ Mr. HendersonMay I ask whether the Prime Minister's hope that the Tientsin incident may be settled also covers the wider demands made by the local spokesmen? Have the Japanese Government officially formulated their wider demands?
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir. The Japanese Government have not done so.
§ Mr. EdenMay I ask my right hon. Friend whether the better hopes of which he spoke just now arise solely from contacts in Tokyo, or whether there is any improvement of any kind in the local situation; and will he bear in mind that the promises of Tokyo have not always been fulfilled as we might have hoped?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, Sir. I am quite aware of that, and the hopes which I expressed have reference to conversations with the Japanese Government in Tokyo. I hope they will be able to restrain their subordinates in Tientsin.
§ Mr. BellengerHow long are we expected to tolerate these intolerable incidents?
§ Sir J. Wardlaw-MilneMay I ask whether there is not a very grave danger that my right hon. Friend's patience and conciliatory policy will be just as much misunderstood in the Far East as they are in Germany, and whether, in his efforts to avoid a conflict which might lead to war in the Far East, it would not be worth while to threaten definite economic reprisals?
§ The Prime MinisterWe shall have all those considerations in mind in dealing with the situation. I hope my hon. Friend will exercise as much patience as he can in the difficulties to which we are being subjected.