§ 9. Mr. William Teelingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many United States daily news-papers are received at the offices of the United Kingdom Liaison Mission in Tokyo; how much money is allocated by the Treasury for their purchase; how long it takes for them to arrive; and what monitoring system is in operation from Washington or New York for the Mission to be immediately informed of Press and Congress statements and comments on Japan.
§ The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Ernest Bevin)The United Kingdom Liaison Mission in Tokyo receives four American newspapers regularly by courtesy of their local correspondents; no money is therefore allocated by the Treasury for their purchase; they take twelve to fourteen days in transit. No monitoring system is in operation from Washington or New York for 1924 the Mission to be informed immediately of Press and Congress statements and comments on Japan, but these are reported by the United Press and International News Service agencies, and any items of outstanding importance are immediately telegraphed to Tokyo by our Embassy in Washington.
§ Mr. TeelingIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that while the Parliamentary delegation was in Tokyo a most important piece of information appeared in the Chicago papers and the British Embassy was quite unable to obtain any such copy, whereas S.C.A.P. had already received it by wire from Washington? Does it not sometimes make it very difficult for the Ambassador to carry out his functions when he does not know what is going on?
§ Mr. BevinI have not the slightest idea what happened while the hon. Gentleman was in Tokyo. I was here. If the hon. Gentleman had let me or the Ambassador know at once, I would have seen whether a remedy could have been applied. I had never heard of this until the hon. Member put it to me just now.
§ Mr. TeelingCan some remedy be applied whereby some monitoring system can be arranged so that the Ambassador can be kept regularly informed?
§ Mr. BevinIf the Ambassador is in a difficulty, I expect him to communicate with me. That is only right and proper. I will take up quite strongly why he should complain to Members of Parliament before telling me that he is in difficulties.
§ Mr. Stanley PrescottNo, that is not fair. Could the right hon. Gentleman give the names of the four papers which are delivered to the United Kingdom Mission in Tokyo?
§ Mr. PrescottNo, the American papers.
§ 10. Mr. Teelingasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many United Kingdom daily newspapers are received at the offices of the United Kingdom Mission in Tokyo; how long it takes for them to arrive; and what system is 1925 in operation to keep the head of the Mission immediately informed of all articles in the Press or references in Parliament to Japan.
§ Mr. BevinFive daily papers and in addition three Sunday papers and three weeklies are received at the Offices of the United Kingdom Liaison Mission in Tokyo. They are sent by air and take from 15 to 25 days. A summary of important items appearing in the Press is telegraphed weekly. Any item of special importance is immediately summarised and telegraphed as are all important Parliamentary references. In addition, the Mission receives cuttings of all Press and Parliamentary references by air bag and the London Press Service is also available.
§ Mr. TeelingIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the American Ambassador in London sends regularly by monitoring any newspaper articles connected with Japan from this country to General MacArthur and they are received by him the next day? May I also ask if he is fully aware that in no circumstances at any moment did the Embassy in Tokyo put this to us as a matter of complaint. We found it out for ourselves having lived there for three weeks and kept our eyes open.
§ Mr. BevinI have looked through what the office is doing in sending information and I am quite satisfied that we are keeping our Embassies thoroughly informed.