§ 1 and 2. Mr. Hannahasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (I) whether it is possible for a British firm with branches at Tientsin and Shanghai to transfer goods from stocks at one branch to the other without Japanese permission;
(2)whether he is aware that the Japanese Federal Reserve Bank in North China have prepared forms for distribution to foreign importers on which they are required to give details of their monthly importations of certain classes of merchandise from 1st June, 1939,to 31st July,1940; with full particulars as to quantity and price; whether such forms have been sent out to all the foreign chambers of commerce for distribution among their nationals; and by what right the Japanese claim to have access to this confidential information?
§ The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Eden)The Federal Reserve Bank in North China has prepared a form requiring details of certain importations from June, 1939,to June,1940. Importers obtain these forms direct and submit them for attestation to their national chamber of commerce. Import and export permits issued by the Federal Reserve 144 Bank are required for goods passing into and out of Tientsin. This is the case even if the goods in question belong to a branch of the same firm in Shanghai.As I stated in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Stourbridge (Mr. R. Morgan) on 12th February last, repeated representations against trade and exchange restrictions in North China have been made by His Majesty's Government, but so far without satisfactory result.
§ Mr. HannahWill these representations continue to be made?
§ Mr.EdenI am having a review of a number of these questions, and propose to take them up collectively.