§ Mr. DUCKWORTHasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, in view of developments in the Far East, he will now consider whether the time has arrived to offer to the contending parties in China the good services of this country in bringing the civil war to a close; and whether to this end he will consult the other Powers chiefly interested in China to induce them also to take some such action?
Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONWhile His Majesty's Government are anxious to see the re-establishment of peace in China, any attempt at mediation would, particularly at the present juncture, be extremely delicate and would, I fear, be misinterpreted. His Majesty's Government feel, therefore, that they cannot take any step of this nature unless definitely invited to do so by both sides.