HC Deb 22 June 1925 vol 185 cc1099-100W
Mr. HAYES

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the inquiry which is now being held in Shanghai into the causes of the recent shootings will also investigate the question of time which was allowed to elapse between the warning to the crowd and the giving of orders to shoot; and the powers possessed by the international authorities in dealing with street processions?

Mr. A. CHAMBERLAIN

It may be assumed that the inquiry will cover the two points mentioned, but instructions are being sent to His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking to make sure that it does so.

Sir F. WISE

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if any British subject has been killed or wounded in Canton since the recent disturbance?

Mr. A. CHAMBERLAIN

No British casualties have been reported from Canton since the outbreak of the recent troubles.

Mr. RENNIE SMITH

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what constitutes a ratepayer for election purposes in Shanghai; how many ratepayers there are; of what nationality; and whether each citizen has only one vote?

Mr. A. CHAMBERLAIN

The only information I have in regard to the first and last parts of the question is contained in the Land Regulations, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House. I understand that there are some 2,700 ratepayers of various nationalities, mostly British, American, Japanese, German, Italian, Dutch and Norwegian.