§ 2.49 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 any compensation has yet been received from the Chinese Communist Government for the killing and wounding of British sailors on the Royal Naval motor launch 1323 on 9th September, 1953.]
THE MINISTER OF STATE, FOREIGN OFFICE (THE MARQUESS OF READING)My Lords, no compensation has yet been received. It was not until 486 January 22, that the Chinese Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs sent a written reply to the Note of October 16 from Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires. The Chinese Government restate their version of the events of September 9, which lays the blame on the Royal Naval motor launch, and refuse to accept Her Majesty's Government's protest and claim for compensation. The text of this reply was received in London only on Monday morning and is being carefully studied.
§ LORD VANSITTARTMy Lords, in view of the noble Marquess's reply, I think it only right that I should defer any further question until the Foreign Office has had further time to consider what is, on the face of it, a very disappointing answer.