§ 4.11 p.m.
§ LORD AILWYNMy Lords, I beg to ask the question standing in my name.
§ [The question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government, whether it is a fact that approximately 100 British civilians in Shanghai, 989 urgently awaiting repatriation after long years of internment, are being excluded from the "Empress of Australia" which is shortly sailing for this country from China; whether it is true that this ship is carrying 600 Chinese naval cadets for training in this country; and if so, whether immediate steps may be taken to reduce this number of Chinese cadets, postponing their passage to a later date, in order to accommodate these unfortunate British nationals, many of whom are in serious circumstances arising from the economic conditions and extreme financial disturbance now existing in China.]
§ LORD WALKDENMy Lords, before answering this question I should like to assure the House that its nature is not quite so solemn as it might appear to your Lordships on first reading the text. You will see that according to the Order Paper, it refers apparently to people "awaiting repatriation after long years of interment." The citizens in question, I am glad to say, have not been interred. When I first read the question, I wondered whether such a funereal statement was really meant seriously.
§ LORD AILWYNIt was not the fault of the questioner.
§ LORD WALKDENMy Lords, clearly "interment" is a printer's error. It should of course be "internment." The answer to the noble Lord's question is that the Chinese naval personnel referred to comprise the remainder of the crews that are to take over the cruiser "Aurora" and other of His Majesty's ships which are being transferred to the Chinese Navy, and any further delay in their sailing would postpone the release of the British crews that are now manning these ships. Their sailing has already been considerably delayed and cannot be further deferred. I am, however, very glad to state that 118 berths have been allocated in the "Empress of Australia" for ex-internees from Shanghai, and that I have every expectation that shipping space will be provided for the remainder by the end of the year.
§ LORD AILWYNMy Lords, arising out of that reply—which, as was to be expected, coming as it did from the noble Lord, Lord Walkden, was a very sympathetic reply—may I say that while I am most anxious, as your Lordships will 990 appreciate, that no word shall fall from my lips that can be construed as anything but friendliness and warm affection for the Chinese people, I wish to ask whether His Majesty's Government are aware that in a letter dated August 22 of this year, which I have here in my hand, the Ministry of Transport gave a definite assurance to the Chairman of the China Association, on whose behalf I speak today that any accommodation not required for Service personnel on board the two ships, the "Mataroa" and the "Empress of Australia," would be made available for civilian passengers from Hong Kong or Shanghai to the United Kingdom? Can it he contended that it was ever seriously contemplated that the term "Service personnel" should cover such a category as Chinese naval cadets for training in this country? Clearly, it was intended to refer to British and Empire Service men and women. Actually, I have had information only this morning from which it appears that the "Mataroa" never called at Shanghai at all for British personnel.
Are His Majesty's Government further aware of an official announcement by the British Consul-General at Shanghai on September 30, 1946, a copy of which I have here, emphasizing that the "Empress of Australia" would afford the final opportunity for repatriation to the United Kingdom with the assistance of His Britannic Majesty's Government? Finally, are His Majesty's Government aware of the considerable feeling- that has been aroused in the British community in Shanghai by this apparent volte-face on the part of His Majesty's Government, and will they give an assurance that they will accelerate by every means in their power, and assist, the passage home of this 100 odd British civilians, remembering the privations which many of them have undergone during the past five years, and also that they continue to live in most distressing circumstances, many of them having little if any means of livelihood?
§ LORD WALKDENMy Lords, the Ministry of Transport have really done their best in this matter. As I have told your Lordships, 118 berths have been reserved in the "Empress of Australia." The allocation of space on that ship is not under the control of the Ministry of Transport but is under the control of the military authorities. The 991 Minister cannot say "do this" and "do that"—he can only do his best by negotiation. I am also informed that these civilians whom we are now considering did not avail themselves of the special arrangements which were made some months ago for the evacuation of released Allied prisoners or war and internees. Many of them stayed behind, at the request of their firms, in order to try to keep hold of, or to pick up anew, trade relations in Northern China. It was very commendable in them thus to try to think up with or renew old trading arrangements.
Now they wish to come home, and there is every sympathy for them. Every Everything has been done for them and they will be brought home, or they will be able to sail, it is hoped, before the end of the year.
§ LORD AILWYNAnd assisted?
§ LORD WALKDENWith regard to the matter of the Chinese personnel, one has to be very careful. The authorities, naturally, wish to keep faith with them as well as with our own civilians. It would never do for us to lay ourselves open to a charge of having in any way broken faith with the Chinese people for whom we have such a high regard and who have, undoubtedly, a great future before them. Any reduction in the number of Chinese cadets taking passage on this occasion would dislocate the whole of the Admiralty training scheme and postpone the date on which British vessels would be transferred to the Chinese Navy. Our own sailors were to come home after being liberated from the ships that are being handed over to China and we have to keep faith with them. Many of them have been deferred again and again. Relatively speaking, I do not think that the citizens whom the noble Lord has in mind have been very unfairly treated in relation to the other groups of people, all of whom have to be given very careful consideration.