11. Mr. Wedderburnasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there is any prospect of an official Chinese Mission visiting this country?
§ Mr. LawIn view of the success which attended the good will Mission consisting of four British Members of Parliament, which visited China at the end of last 1122 year, His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom were anxious for an opportunity to receive a corresponding Mission to this country from China. They were confident that such a Mission would furnish an invaluable contribution to a better understanding between Great Britain and China, and would deepen still further the friendly relations which so happily exist between the two peoples. It would also provide His Majesty's Government with an opportunity for attempting to repay the hospitality so generously accorded to the British Mission last year. His Majesty's Ambassador was therefore recently instructed to convey to the Chinese Government a most cordial invitation for the despatch of a Mission to the United Kingdom. I am very happy to be able to announce that this invitation has now been accepted, and that a Chinese Mission, consisting of five members, has been appointed by the Chinese Government. The Mission hopes to arrive here in the near future and to stay about one month, during which period it will, of course, be the guests of His Majesty's Government. I take this opportunity to extend to the Mission, on behalf of His Majesty's Government, a most warm and hearty welcome.
§ Sir Herbert WilliamsCan my right hon. Friend say whether a Chinese lady will be included in the Mission?
§ Sir H. WilliamsHaving regard to the fact that a British woman Member of Parliament is now on a Mission to China, I wondered whether a Chinese lady could be included?