§ Mr. AMMONasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, seeing that the British Minister at Peking has protested to the Peking Government against the Canton boycott, he will say whether the Government holds the Peking Government to be responsible for the boycott at Canton and in a position to restrain it?
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINNo written protest against the boycott generally has1452W been made to the Government at Peking, but protest has been lodged in respect of certain incidents arising out of it, such as the arrest of British subjects. His Majesty's Minister has also on more than one occasion pointed out verbally to members of the Central Government that the continuation of the state of affairs prevailing at Canton and Swatow is not conducive to continued good relations between the British and Chinese Governments and peoples. I see no useful purpose in considering whether the Central Government are technically responsible, since it is notorious that in practice they exercise at the moment no effective control over Canton.