§ 2. Mr. Manderasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what rights have been granted to the Japanese in respect of inspection of traffic passing, under the recent Agreement, on the Burma road; how many persons are now included in the Japanese diplomatic and consular staff in Burma; and to what extent these numbers are to be increased, and for what purpose?
§ Mr. ButlerThe recent Agreement does not grant rights of inspection to the Japanese authorities in Burma. There is no Japanese diplomatic staff in Burma, and the only Japanese Consulate is situated at Rangoon. The staff of the Consulate consists of a Consul, two Japanese Chancellors, two Japanese clerks, one Burman and one Indian clerk. No recent increase has occurred, and I have no information of any intended increase.
§ Mr. ManderWould the Government approve of a substantial increase in the staff of the Consulate?
§ Mr. ButlerThat is a matter for the Japanese Government, not for us.
§ Mr. ManderWill certain statistics be made available to the Japanese as to the amount of traffic passing?
§ Major-General Sir Alfred KnoxDoes the hon. Member represent the Japanese Government?
§ Mr. ButlerI understand that certain information will pass between us and the consular office; otherwise there would not be any point in their being one.
Mr. J. J. DavidsonWas not that last Supplementary Question asked during the Spanish dispute, and are we not very sorry for it now?