§ Mr. Manderasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that during 1938 the United States, British, French, and Dutch empires provided Japan with 86 per cent. of her essential war materials, including 77 per cent. of her aircraft, 99 per cent. of her oil and petroleum, and more than 90 per cent. of all her metals and oils, he will consider the advisability of entering into consultations with the Governments of the United States, France, and Holland, with a view to considering the possibility of taking action to discontinue the encouragement of aggression in this manner?
§ Mr. ButlerThe figures quoted are not borne out by information available from official sources; and, as the Japanese returns since July, 1937, have not shown the country of origin, statistics of this sort must necessarily be largely conjectural. If at any time it appeared to His Majesty's Government that consultation with other Governments on the subject would be useful, they would naturally be ready to undertake it.
§ Commander Marsdenasked the Prime Minister what reply has been received to the renewed representations made to the' Japanese Government by His Majesty's Ambassador at Tokyo, on 24th March, with regard to the interest due to British bondholders of the Shanghai-Nanking Railway at present controlled by the Japanese?
§ Mr. ButlerThe position remains as stated in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Stourbridge (Mr. R. Morgan) on Monday.
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§ Captain Pluggeasked the Prime Minister whether the British Government is, in view of the adoption of the Anglo-Japanese formula, requesting the suspension of the blockade of the British Concession at Tientsin; and if not, whether he will consider doing so?
§ Mr. ButlerHis Majesty's Ambassador at Tokyo is continuing to press for the removal of all restrictions.