§ 7. Mr. Moreingasked the Prime Minister whether transport facilities are yet available for British business men who desire to travel between Hankow and Shanghai?
§ Mr. ButlerOn 17th April some 20 passengers were conveyed in British ships from Shanghai to Hankow and on 29th 965 April some 50 passengers including all the British subjects who wished to do so left Hankow for Shanghai. But regular facilities are not as yet available and discussions on this subject are proceeding with the competent Japanese authorities.
§ Mr. MoreingWhile thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that crumb of comfort, may I ask him to take this question up with the Japanese Government and press very strongly on them the great hardship not only to business men but their wives and families caused by these restrictions on facilities for traffic on the Yangtse; and will he also say whether he has had any further discussions with the officers and the Admiral commanding the China station on the matter, as I asked him to do on 13th March?
§ Mr. ButlerAll such contacts have been maintained, and His Majesty's Government realise the seriousness of the situation described by the hon. Member.
§ 8. Mr. A. Hendersonasked the Prime Minister whether, with the object of focussing world opinion upon methods of warfare which entail wholesale massacre of civilian populations, he will consider approaching other governments to organise collective representations to Japan in favour of abstention from such aerial attacks as have been made on Chungking?
§ Mr. ButlerHis Majesty's Ambassador in Tokyo has made strong representations to the Japanese Government urging that from a humanitarian point of view, as well as in Japan's best interests, stringent instructions should be sent to restrict attacks to recognised military objectives. Sir R. Craigie observed that in the case of the Chungking air raid, casualties appeared to have been suffered almost exclusively by the civilian element of the population. My Noble Friend understands that representations on very similar lines have been made to the Japanese Government by the Ambassadors of other countries.
§ Mr. HendersonIn view of the great damage caused by these raids would it not be possible for the Council of the League, which is meeting shortly to consider this question, to pass a resolution similar to the resolution passed in September of last year by the League Assembly?
§ Mr. ButlerThat is a matter for consideration but an initiative would be necessary.
§ Mr. SorensenHave replies been received from the Japanese Government?
§ Mr. ButlerNot on this matter.
§ Mr. BoothbyHave any special arrangements been made for the security of His Majesty's Embassy?
§ Mr. ButlerIn the representations made it has been pointed out that His Majesty's Embassy and Consulate have been hit in these raids.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerIn regard to the initiative at Geneva, will the Government bear in mind that the Japanese have systematically destroyed all the ports in territory which is still in Chinese hands?
§ 12. Captain Alan Grahamasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the organised propaganda against British interests in those districts of China controlled by the Japanese; whether his information shows that this anti-British activity is instigated by the local Japanese authorities; and whether he will call the attention of the Japanese Government to the grave danger to friendly relations between Great Britain and Japan if such attacks are allowed to continue?
§ Mr. ButlerRecent reports from His Majesty's Consul-General at Shanghai, who raised the matter with his Japanese colleague in the early part of last month, show that this propaganda activity has diminished in intensity. The situation will continue to be watched, and representations will be made if necessary.
§ 13. Sir John Wardlaw-Milneasked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement regarding the seizure by the Japanese of the steamship "Sagres"; and what action the Government is taking in the matter?
§ Mr. ButlerHis Majesty's Government are awaiting a reply to the representations which were made to the Japanese Government, and which I described in my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Nuneaton ((Lieut.-Commander Fletcher) on 4th May.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherIs this ship still under Japanese control?
§ Mr. ButlerYes, Sir.
§ Lieut.-Commander FletcherIs it not possible to take some steps to secure the release of the ship?
§ Mr. ButlerI will certainly investigate the matter.
§ 14. Sir John Haslamasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that a British-owned newspaper in Shanghai published on 1st March the names and addresses of 34 opium dens in the Shanghai district outside the jurisdiction of the Shanghai Municipal Council which have been licensed by the Japanese authorities for $500 each per month; and whether he will make strong representations to the Japanese Government on the necessity for immediately suppressing opium traffic in the area under their control?
§ Mr. ButlerMy Noble Friend has received a report to the effect that before 1st March there were some 34 opium hongs in the western extra-settlement area at Shanghai, which is under Japanese control, and that since this date four more have been established there. These hongs are licensed by an Opium Monopoly Bureau, to which it is believed that they each pay a monthly fee of some $500. The question of an approach to the Japanese Government in this matter is under consideration.
§ Sir J. HaslamMay I ask my right hon. Friend whether he remembers that I have been asking this question for some time now, and cannot something be done to stop this abominable traffic?
§ Mr. G. StraussCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the licensing and authorisation of opium dens is a complete innovation?
§ Mr. ButlerIn reply to the last supplementary question, I think that is the case. In reply to the former, I am aware of my hon. Friend's pertinacity, and I hope it will be rewarded.
§ 17. Mr. Noel-Bakerasked the Prime Minister whether he can make a statement concerning the bombing of the civil population of Chungking, Chuanchow, and other Chinese towns by invading Japanese aircraft?
§ Mr. ButlerComplete particulars of the bombing of Chungking are not yet avail- 968 able, but His Majesty's Ambassador in China reported on 10th May that the casualties among non-combatants resulting from the raids of 3rd and 4th May were estimated at 1,600 dead and approximately the same number wounded. It was feared, however, that the full casualty list would be found to be even higher when excavations were completed. At Foochow some 180 casualties resulted from the raids of 25th and 28th April, but the damage to British property was slight. At Ichang 40 buildings are reported to have been destroyed, and there were 40 casualties as the result of an air raid on 8th May. My Noble Friend has received no detailed reports of raids on Chuanchow or other Chinese towns.
§ 18. Mr. Noel-Bakerasked the Prime Minister whether he has received reports upon the action being taken by the Japanese naval authorities in excavating a base for submarines at Yulinkang, on the South coast of the Island of Hainan?
§ Mr. ButlerMy Noble Freind has seen a report to this effect, but has so far received no confirmation of it from official sources.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerWill the right hon. Gentleman consider instructing a British Agent to inquire into this matter?
§ Mr. ButlerThe question of taking steps to inquire into the truth of the report is at present under consideration.
§ Mr. Noel-Baker(by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister whether he can make a statement concerning the invasion and occupation by Japanese armed forces of the International Concession at Kulangsu and concerning the declaration by a Japanese naval authority that similar action might be necessary in the International Concession at Shanghai?
§ Mr. ButlerOn the morning of nth May, the chairman of the Amoy Chamber of Commerce, a strong supporter of the local Provisional Government set up under Japanese auspices, was shot at Kulangsu, and later died. His assailant escaped. The same evening an armed Japanese naval party of between 100 and 200 men landed and started to patrol the Settlement, searching private houses and making many arrests. His Majesty's Ambassador at Tokyo has been instructed to protest against this forcible interference with the municipal administration at 969 Kulangsu, which was established by an agreement between the Chinese Government and the foreign Treaty Powers, including Great Britain and Japan. As regards Shanghai, the Japanese Government can be under no misapprehension as to the unfortunate results on Anglo-Japanese relations which would be produced, were similar action to be taken by the Japanese in the International Settlement there.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerHas the right hon. Gentleman had any assurance that the occupation of Kulangsu is merely temporary?
§ Mr. ButlerI am awaiting an immediate report from His Majesty's Ambassador, and, when it is received, my Noble Friend will be able to give the hon. Member the information.
§ Sir Percy HarrisAre the Government in close contact with the United States of America; and are they making similar representations?
§ Mr. ButlerI understand it is reported, though I have no official confirmation, that the United States Commander-in-Chief in South China has arrived at Amoy from Soochow in the United States destroyer "Bulmer."
§ Mr. ThorneHas any effort been made to put an end to this unfortunate quarrel?
§ Mr. ButlerYes, Sir.
§ Mr. GallacherHas any protest been made to Japan about this invasion?