§ Mr. FORRESTasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, if, in view of the coming Imperial Conference and for the information of the public, he will state what exactly the objections of China are to the Anglo-Japanese Treaty of Alliance in its present form?
Mr. HARMSWORTHAs the whole question of the renewal of the Anglo-Japanese Agreement is now under immediate consideration, I would prefer to abstain from making any statement as to the attitude of different parties or Governments towards it.
§ Sir W. de FRECEasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will instruct the British representatives in the Far East to inquire into the truth of the reports now current in this country to the effect that, owing to Chinese objections to aspects of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, whose renewal is under consideration, there may be instituted a boycott of British imports in China; and whether, in view of the serious result of any such boycott to the Lancashire cotton trade, he will, as soon as possible, publish the information he may receive?
Mr. HARMSWORTHI am not in a position to make any statement on the question of the renewal of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance until it has been discussed at the forthcoming Imperial Conference, but, I should add, I do not think that the difficulties referred to in the question will arise.