§ Mr. FORRESTasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the present position in regard to Wei-hai-Wei; whether it was agreed at Washington to restore this place to China under certain conditions; what these conditions are, and which is the one which causes delay in the re-transference of the place; whether he will state the nett cost to this country of looking after the place; and whether he will take the opportunity to clear up the affair by handing the place back?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONThe position as regards Wei-hai-Wei remains as stated in the reply given to the hon. and Pliant Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy) on 3rd August, 1925. The cause of delay in rendition was also explained in that reply; this866W cause still remains in effect. For the terms of the Washington Agreement regarding Wei-hai-Wei I would refer the hon. Member to Command Paper No. 1627 (Miscellaneous No. 1, 1922). The cost to this country of the administration of the territory is nil. As regards the last part of the hon. Member's question, an agreement for the rendition was negotiated in 1924, but in the absence of a recognised government in China to whom to hand over the territory, it has been impossible to implement this agreement. No way has yet been found to overcome this fundamental difficulty.