§ Mr. LUNNasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that the existence of a force such as the Shanghai Volunteers, equipped with armoured cars and machine-guns under the command of a British officer, responsible only to the municipal council of an international settlement, constitutes an unnecessary danger to the maintenance of peaceful relations between Britain and China, he will propose to the other Powers concerned that these volunteers shall be disbanded forthwith?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINNo, Sir. I do not consider that the existence of the Shanghai Volunteers involves any such danger as that which the hon. Member apprehends.
§ Mr. LUNNasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the total numbers of armoured cars and machine guns now in possession of the Shanghai Volunteers; whether these engines of war are of British origin; and whether any restriction of the purposes for which they 43W might be used was imposed at the time that they were furnished to the municipality?
§ Captain KINGI have been asked to reply, but I am not in a position to give the information asked for, except in regard to the material in the possession of the Corps which has been supplied by the War Office. This consists of 20 Lewis guns and 14 Vickers machine guns. No armoured cars have been supplied by the War Office. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.