Mr. MALONEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information to give to the House regarding the situation in China; and whether any communication has been received from the Chinese Government at Nanking.
§ Sir A. CHAMBERLAINPeking was taken over by Shansi troops on 8th June without incident, and General Yen's chief of staff gave the foreign representatives the fullest assurances as to the maintenance of law and order. The position at Peking remained uncertain as large numbers of Marshal Feng Yu-hsiang's troops were quartered immediately to the south of the city, while on 12th June General Pai Chunghsi, a member of the Kwangsi group now controlling Hankow, arrived at the capital. The latest reports indicate that Marshal Feng's troops are removing from the suburbs of Peking and taking up a position some 30 miles or so further south, but his intentions remain obscure. Tientsin was taken over by a Shansi general on 12th June. There was some looting in the Chinese city on the part of the outgoing Northern troops, but order was speedily restored. Railway communication with Peking was interrupted for some days, but has now been re-opened.
Dr. C. T. Wang assumed office as Minister for Foreign Affairs at Nanking on 14th June. Early in June Chiang Kai-shek resigned his posts of Commander in Chief of the army and Chairman of the Military Council, but the latest reports indicate that he may withdraw his resignation. Dr. C. T. Wang telegraphed to His Majesty's Minister informing him of his appointment: the Chinese Chargé d'Affaires in London has written, under instructions from Nanking, informing me that he will continue to represent China in this country, and that Dr. Wang has assumed office as Minister for Foreign Affairs. No other communication has been received from the Chinese authorities at Nanking.