§ 2. Mr. R. Morganasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the regulations published, on 30th March, by the Tsingtao Municipal Council empowering the municipality to commandeer land in the district and forbidding the transfer of the ownership of land without the permission of the authorities; and what steps he has taken to protect British interests?
§ Mr. ButlerYes, Sir. It appears that on 1st April the Special Municipal Administration at Tsingtao issued regulations removing certain restrictions previously imposed. His Majesty's Government naturally reserve all rights of British subjects under these regulations, but up to the present no actual case has arisen in which British interests are affected.
§ 3. Mr. Morganasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that the refusal of adequate wharfage facilities at Tsingtao still continues; that the additional berths understood to have been opened to three-Power vessels on 13th January were not available until 20th March, and then only to a limited extent, although they had been frequently vacant during the period; and whether he will lay on the Table a report on the whole question of discrimination by the Japanese authorities against British shipping?
§ Mr. ButlerIn recent weeks some three-fourths of all British vessels calling at Tsingtao have been allotted berths at the wharves. The additional berths, opened in January, were made available to British ships for the first time on 4th and 5th May. Though the situation cannot be described as satisfactory, there is a noticeable change for the better in the treatment of third-Power nationals and shipping. As regards the last part of the Question, full information has been given to the House from time to time, and under present circumstances my Noble Friend is not prepared to lay further Papers.