§ Sir L. LYLEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs seeing that the Soviet Government has appointed an Ambassador to China instead of a Minister and that Japan has promised to do so next year, and that an Ambassador ranks before a Minister, whether, in view of British interests in China, he will sympathetically consider the desirability of our raising the diplomatic status so that it is not behind that of the other Powers?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Government think it undesirable that any such change should be made except as the result of an agreement between the Great Powers that took part in the Washington Conference, and, further, that any agreement for the purpose should be withheld at least until China has taken steps to establish an effective central government. The action taken by the Soviet Government does not constitute a reason for modifying this view.
§ Sir W. de FRECEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if His Majesty's Government has been approached by the Chinese Government with a view to raising the diplomatic status both in China and in this country to an ambassadorial rank; and what, in that case, is the attitude of the Government on the subject?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I2546W gave this afternoon to the hon. Member for Epping (Sir L. Lyle).