§ 3.29 p.m.
§ LORD VANSITTARTMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Peking Government has yet paid any compensation for the murder of a number of British sailors by the crew of one of its vessels on September 9, 1953.]
THE MINISTER OF STATE, FOREIGN OFFICE (THE MARQUESS OF READING)My Lords, the answer to the noble Lord's Question is, "No." Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking delivered a further note to the Chinese Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs on February 10 maintaining our strong protest and our claim for compensation. No reply has yet been received.
§ LORD VANSITTARTMy Lords, I shall not press the matter further to-day, but if no satisfaction has been received by the end of the Conference at Geneva—whenever that may be—I may raise the matter in a more pressing form.